The nurse is continuing to care for the child.

Exhibits

Drag words from the choices below to fill in each blank in the following sentence.

The nurse should anticipate a prescription for

dropdown

and

dropdown

.

Rationale for Correct Choices

• Endometritis: This uterine infection is common after cesarean delivery, especially with prolonged rupture of membranes. The client’s uterine tenderness, elevated fundus, boggy consistency, and foul-smelling lochia are hallmark signs of endometritis, making it the most likely diagnosis.
• Uterus and lochia: The presence of a tender uterus that is elevated above the umbilicus and only firms with massage, combined with dark, malodorous lochia, strongly suggests infection of the uterine lining. These findings point specifically to endometritis rather than general postpartum changes.

Rationale for Incorrect Choices

• Mastitis: Although the client reports heavy, warm breasts with nipple discomfort, there is no breast erythema, localized swelling, or high-grade fever typical of mastitis. These symptoms are likely due to engorgement related to lactation rather than infection.
• Pneumonia: The client’s respiratory assessment shows clear lungs with only slight basal changes common postoperatively. There are no signs of cough, sputum production, hypoxia, or respiratory distress, which makes pneumonia an unlikely cause of her symptoms.
• Fever: A temperature of 38.2°C is above normal, but mild postpartum fever can have various causes, including engorgement, dehydration, or early infection. Fever alone is not specific enough to confirm a diagnosis without targeted findings.
• WBC count: Although an elevated WBC of 33,000/mm³ raises concern, postpartum leukocytosis can be physiologic or related to many infections. It is not diagnostic of endometritis without more specific correlating signs like uterine tenderness and abnormal lochia.

Rationale:

A. "Apply the ointment to the skin every 4 hr.": Nitroglycerin topical ointment is applied every 6 to 8 hours, depending on the provider's instructions. Applying it every 4 hours may increase the risk of side effects such as hypotension or tolerance due to excessive dosing frequency.

B. "Spread the ointment in a thin, even layer.": The medication should be applied in a thin, consistent layer to allow for proper absorption through the skin. The dose is usually measured and spread using applicator paper, avoiding rubbing or massaging it in.

C. "Apply the ointment to the forearm.": The preferred application sites are hairless areas of the chest, back, or upper arms. The forearm is not typically used due to variability in absorption and the presence of thinner skin and more movement.

D. "Massage the ointment into the skin.": Nitroglycerin ointment should never be massaged into the skin. Massaging can lead to unpredictable absorption rates and an increased risk of hypotension or headache due to rapid systemic absorption.