The nurse is planning care for a client who has a fourth degree midline laceration that occurred during vaginal delivery of an 8-pound 10-ounce (3674 grams) infant. Which intervention has the highest priority for this client?
Administer prescribed PRN sleep medications.
Encourage use of prescribed analgesic perineal sprays.
Encourage breastfeeding to promote uterine involution.
Administer prescribed stool softener.
The Correct Answer is D
A. Administer prescribed PRN sleep medications: While adequate rest is important for postpartum recovery, it does not address the immediate risk to the client’s healing perineal tissue and comfort related to the fourth-degree laceration.
B. Encourage use of prescribed analgesic perineal sprays: Pain management is important for comfort and mobility, but it does not prevent complications such as wound disruption or trauma during defecation, which could impair healing.
C. Encourage breastfeeding to promote uterine involution: Breastfeeding supports uterine contraction and reduces postpartum bleeding, but it does not directly impact the care and protection of a severe perineal laceration.
D. Administer prescribed stool softener: Preventing straining during bowel movements is critical in promoting healing of a fourth-degree perineal laceration. Stool softeners reduce the risk of trauma to the repaired tissue, prevent pain, and minimize potential complications such as wound dehiscence.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
A. Ask the client about gastrointestinal pain: PPIs reduce gastric acid secretion, which relieves symptoms such as heartburn, epigastric pain, and discomfort related to peptic ulcer disease or GERD. Assessing the client’s report of pain evaluates whether the medication is effective.
B. Auscultate for bowel sounds in all quadrants: Bowel sounds indicate gastrointestinal motility rather than acid suppression. PPIs do not directly affect peristalsis, so auscultation is not a reliable measure of drug effectiveness.
C. Measure the client's fluid intake and output: Fluid balance is important in overall patient care but is not a direct indicator of how well a PPI is working. Intake and output monitoring is more relevant to renal or fluid management.
D. Monitor the client's serum electrolyte levels: Electrolyte monitoring may be necessary with prolonged PPI therapy due to risks such as hypomagnesemia, but it does not provide immediate information on short-term medication effectiveness.
Correct Answer is {"dropdown-group-1":"B","dropdown-group-2":"A"}
Explanation
Rationale for correct choices:
• Respirations: Morphine is an opioid analgesic that can depress the respiratory center in the brainstem, leading to slowed breathing and hypoventilation. Monitoring respirations after administration is critical to detect early signs of opioid-induced respiratory depression.
• Ice application to the shoulder: Applying ice reduces swelling, pain, and inflammation by causing vasoconstriction and limiting fluid accumulation at the injury site. For an acute humeral fracture with significant swelling and bruising, cold therapy is the appropriate intervention.
Rationale for incorrect choices:
• Nausea: While morphine can cause nausea and vomiting as side effects, they are not the most life-threatening concerns compared to respiratory depression. Monitoring nausea is appropriate but not the priority when evaluating opioid safety.
• Blood pressure: Morphine can cause hypotension, but this effect is less common and typically secondary to respiratory depression and vasodilation. Continuous monitoring of blood pressure is helpful, but respiratory monitoring takes priority in detecting opioid complications.
• Early active range of motion: Active movement of the injured arm is not recommended immediately after a displaced humeral fracture, as it can worsen displacement and interfere with healing. Immobilization and stabilization are required before introducing range-of-motion exercises.
• Heat application to the shoulder: Heat increases blood flow to tissues, which can worsen swelling and bleeding in the acute phase of injury. Applying heat too soon after a fracture increases the risk of complications rather than reducing them.
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