The medical-surgical nurse is caring for a 55-year-old female patient after surgery. The patient's respiratory rate has increased from 12 to 22 breaths/min, and the pulse rate has increased from 86 to 110 beats/min since the patient was last assessed 4 hours ago. What action by the nurse is best?

Premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) are abnormal heart rhythms originating from the ventricles. They can be triggered by various factors, including irritation or stimulation of the airway during suctioning.
In this situation, the priority is to ensure adequate oxygenation and ventilation for the patient. Stopping the suctioning procedure and providing ventilatory support with 100% oxygen helps maintain oxygen levels and minimizes further cardiac dysrhythmias.
B. Check the patient's potassium level in (option B) is incorrect because While electrolyte imbalances, including low potassium levels (hypokalemia), can contribute to cardiac dysrhythmias, checking the potassium level is not the immediate priority when PVCs occur during suctioning.
C. Give prescribed PRN antidysrhythmic medications in (option C) is incorrect because: Administering antidysrhythmic medications without further assessment or evaluation may not be appropriate in this situation.
D. Decrease the suction pressure to 80 mm Hg in (option D) is incorrect because: While adjusting suction pressure may help prevent further irritation, it is not the initial priority when PVCs are present during suctioning.
E. Documenting the dysrhythmia in the patient's chart in (option E) is incorrect because: Documentation is important but should not be the initial action when a patient experiences PVCs during suctioning. Patient safety and immediate intervention take precedence.
Therefore, when PVCs occur during suctioning, the nurse should stop the procedure, provide ventilatory support with 100% oxygen, and assess the patient's response to intervention.

These manifestations occur as compensatory mechanisms in response to decreased blood volume and compromised tissue perfusion. The body attempts to compensate for the inadequate circulating volume by increasing heart rate (A) and respiratory rate (B) to enhance oxygen delivery.
D. The decreased systolic blood pressure (D) is a result of decreased cardiac output and vasoconstriction in an attempt to maintain perfusion to vital organs.
E. The decreased urine output (E) is a result of decreased renal perfusion due to decreased blood volume.
C. Decreased pulse rate in (option C) is incorrect because it is not typically seen in the compensatory stage of hypovolemic shock. The body tries to increase heart rate to maintain cardiac output and compensate for the decreased blood volume.
F. Bilateral crackles in (option F) is incorrect because the lung bases are more commonly associated with conditions such as pulmonary edema or fluid overload, rather than the compensatory stage of hypovolemic shock.
It's important to note that the manifestations of shock can vary depending on individual patient factors and the underlying cause of shock. Therefore, a comprehensive assessment and clinical judgment are necessary to fully evaluate the patient's condition.