One hour after arriving on the postoperative unit, a woman who received spinal anesthesia 5 hours ago is complaining of severe abdominal incisional pain. Her vital signs are: temperature 99° F (37.2° C), heart rate 110 beats/minute, respiratory rate 30 breaths/minute and blood pressure 160/90 mmHg. The client's skin is pale, and the surgical dressing is dry and Intact. Which intervention is most important for the nurse to Implement?

Provide pillow for splinting.

Assess the IV site for patency.

Place in a high Fowler position.

Administer an IV analgesic.

None

Answer and Explanation

The Correct Answer is D

The correct answer is Choice D

Choice A rationale: Splinting with a pillow may reduce discomfort during movement or coughing by stabilizing the incision site, but it does not address acute postoperative pain with sympathetic overdrive. The elevated heart rate, respiratory rate, and blood pressure suggest a stress response mediated by catecholamines. Without analgesia, nociceptive signals continue to activate the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. While splinting is supportive, it lacks the pharmacologic efficacy needed to blunt nociceptive transmission at the spinal or supraspinal level.

Choice B rationale: Assessing IV patency is a procedural prerequisite for medication administration but not a therapeutic intervention in itself. It does not directly address the pathophysiology of acute pain or the sympathetic surge evidenced by tachycardia and hypertension. Pain activates ascending pathways via A-delta and C fibers, requiring pharmacologic blockade. IV access assessment is necessary but secondary to the urgent need for analgesia to prevent complications like hypoxia, hyperventilation, or delayed recovery.

Choice C rationale: High Fowler positioning may improve diaphragmatic excursion and reduce pulmonary complications, but it does not mitigate visceral or incisional pain. In fact, increased intra-abdominal pressure from upright posture may exacerbate pain at the surgical site. Pain perception involves central sensitization and peripheral nociceptor activation, which are unaffected by positioning. The client’s pale skin and elevated vitals indicate systemic distress requiring analgesic intervention, not postural adjustment. Thus, this choice lacks direct analgesic benefit.

Choice D rationale: IV analgesics act rapidly to inhibit nociceptive transmission at the spinal cord and brainstem levels. Opioids bind to mu receptors, reducing neurotransmitter release and hyperpolarizing neurons, thereby dampening pain signals. This intervention directly targets the physiologic cause of elevated heart rate, respiratory rate, and blood pressure. Normal heart rate is 60–100 bpm, respiratory rate 12–20 breaths/min, and BP <120/80 mmHg. Prompt analgesia prevents complications like hypoxia, delayed healing, and neuroendocrine stress

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Correct Answer is B

Explanation

A functional assessment is an evaluation of an individual's ability to perform activities of daily living (ADLs), which includes tasks such as bathing, dressing, toileting, eating, and mobility. Falls are a common and significant issue among older adults and are a leading cause of injury and hospitalization. Therefore, it is important to assess the client's risk of falling and inquire about any recent falls to develop an appropriate plan of care to prevent falls.

Encouraging the client to lie as still as possible during the assessment is not appropriate as it may not provide an accurate evaluation of the client's ability to perform ADLs.

Additionally, it is important to assess the client's functional status in a way that is safe and comfortable for them.

Assisting the client with values clarification about end-of-life care options is not appropriate during a functional assessment as it is not directly related to the client's ability to perform ADLs.

Asking the client how often episodes of sundowning are experienced is not appropriate during a functional assessment as sundowning is a symptom of dementia and is not directly related to the client's ability to perform ADLs.

A. Call the pharmacy to obtain a client's next antibiotic dose. B. Observe a client's gait to determine the need for assistance. C. Bring a sterile chest drainage unit from central supply to the unit. D. Evaluate a client's urinary catheter for proper drainage.

Correct Answer is C

Explanation

A. This task is beyond the scope of practice for a UAP. Calling the pharmacy to obtain medications requires clinical judgment and understanding of medication administration, which is the responsibility of licensed nursing personnel. B. This task requires assessment skills, which are beyond the scope of practice for a UAP. Determining a client's need for assistance with mobility requires clinical judgment. C. This task is appropriate to delegate to a UAP. It involves transporting an item from one location to another, which does not require clinical judgment or assessment. D. This task requires assessment skills and clinical judgment, which are beyond the scope of practice for a UAP. Evaluating a client's urinary catheter involves assessing for patency and signs of complications, which should be done by a licensed nurse.

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Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams

An older client is being admitted to a short-term rehabilitation facility after a long hospitalization. The nurse is performing a functional assessment with the client. Which action should the nurse implement?

Correct Answer is B

Explanation

Which instruction should the nurse delegate to an unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP)?

Correct Answer is C

Explanation

A client with a history of unstable angina presents to the emergency department with constant chest pressure that is unrelieved with rest. The client appears anxious, pale, and diaphoretic. After obtaining the client's vital signs, which action should the nurse take next?

A 3-year-old boy with a congenital heart defect is brought to the clinic by his mother because he has a fever and an earache. During the assessment, the mother asks the nurse why her child is at the 5th percentile for weight and height for his age. Which response is best for the nurse to provide?

The practical nurse (PN) reports that a client who has a fingerstick glucose of 35 mg/dL (1.94 mmol/L) is alert and diaphoretic. Which action should the charge nurse take? Reference Ranges Glucose [Reference Range: 0 to 50 years: 74 to 106 mg/dL (4.1 to 5.9 mmol/L)]

When performing suctioning for a client with a tracheostomy, which action should the nurse include?

The home health nurse is assessing an older client who lives alone. The client reports being troubled by constipation. Which additional information should the nurse obtain to formulate a plan of care? (Select all that apply.)

An S3 heart sound is auscultated in a client in her third trimester of pregnancy. What intervention should the nurse take?