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 C

Explanation

Emphysema is a chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) characterized by the destruction of lung tissue and loss of elasticity in the alveoli. This leads to poor gas exchange, specifically the reduced ability of oxygen to enter the bloodstream and carbon dioxide to be eliminated from the body. Impaired gas exchange can result in hypoxemia and hypercapnia, leading to symptoms such as shortness of breath, fatigue, and decreased exercise tolerance.

While self-care deficit, activity intolerance, and ineffective airway clearance are all potential complications associated with emphysema, impaired gas exchange is the priority due to its direct impact on the client's oxygenation and overall respiratory function.

Addressing impaired gas exchange and optimizing oxygenation is essential to support the client's respiratory health and prevent further complications. Management strategies for impaired gas exchange may include administering supplemental oxygen, implementing respiratory treatments to improve lung function, and providing education on breathing techniques and energy conservation.

A. Juice should be avoided in infancy and early childhood B. The majority of the child's calories should be coming from the formula C. The parents can add raw fruit, cheese, or firmly cooked vegetables to the die D. The child should probably be eating more times per day E. The parents should consider using a fluoride supplement F. The child can now convert to animal milk instead of formula

Correct Answer is ["A","C","D"]

Explanation

A) Correct- This is correct advice. Juice is not recommended for infants due to its high sugar content and lack of essential nutrients. It can contribute to excessive calorie intake and dental caries.
B) Incorrect- This is not accurate for a 9-month-old infant. By 9 months, most infants have already started to transition to solid foods, and their primary source of nutrition should be from a variety of solid foods, not formula.
C) Correct- This is correct advice. By 9 months, infants can begin to consume a variety of complementary foods to meet their nutritional needs. Adding raw fruit, cheese, or cooked vegetables can provide important nutrients and help introduce different tastes and textures.
D) Correct- As infants transition to solid foods, they typically require more frequent meals and snacks to meet their energy and nutrient needs. Breast milk or formula intake may also gradually decrease as solid foods are introduced.
E) Incorrect- Fluoride supplementation may be considered based on the fluoride content of the water supply and the child's risk of dental caries. However, this advice is not specific to the child's nutrition and feeding progression.
F. Incorrect- At 9 months, infants should not transition to whole cow's milk as their main source of nutrition. Breast milk or infant formula remains the primary source of nutrition, and cow's milk can be introduced as a beverage and ingredient in cooking after the first year of life.

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Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams

The nurse is caring for a client newly diagnosed with emphysema. The nurse should prioritize which potential complication?

Correct Answer is C

Explanation

Exhibits The nurse at the 9-month visit reviews the child's height, weight, and feeding progression history. What should the nurse advise the parents concerning the child's nutrition? Select all that apply

Correct Answer is ["A","C","D"]

Explanation

The nurse is setting up the equipment to assist with a sigmoidoscopy while the practical nurse (PN) positions the client in a flat prone position. Which action should the nurse implement?

An adult client is admitted for severe pain in his side and back and is sent for an intravenous pyelogram. Which report from the client is the earliest indication to the nurse that the client is experiencing an adverse reaction to this procedure?

The nurse observes a client prepare a meal in the kitchen of a rehabilitation facility prior to discharge. Which behavior(s) indicate the client understands how to maintain balance safely? (Select all that apply.)

The nurse is performing tracheostomy care for a client when a code blue is called for another client on the unit who experiences a cardiopulmonary arrest. Which action should the nurse take?

When caring for a client with full-thickness burns to both lower extremities, which assessment finding(s) warrant immediate intervention by the nurse? (Select all that apply.)

In planning care for a client with early stage Alzheimer's disease, the nurse establishes the nursing problem of risk for injury related to impaired judgment. Which intervention is most important for the nurse to include in this client's plan of care?