The nurse is providing care for a patient who had surgical repair of a paraesophageal (rolling) hernia. The nurse observes that the patient is having difficulty swallowing during the first postoperative meal.What action should the nurse take?
Assure the patient the problem is temporary.
Cut the food into small pieces.
Report the observation to the healthcare provider (HCP).
Offer the patient liquids instead.
The Correct Answer is C
Choice A rationale
Assuring the patient that the problem is temporary may not be accurate. Postoperative dysphagia could indicate a complication from the surgery, such as the stomach fundus being wrapped too tight around the esophagus, causing food obstruction. It’s important to not dismiss the patient’s concerns without proper assessment.
Choice B rationale
Cutting the food into small pieces might help the patient swallow easier, but it does not address the underlying issue. The patient’s difficulty in swallowing could be a sign of a serious problem that needs medical attention.
Choice C rationale
Reporting the observation to the healthcare provider (HCP) is the correct action. After the repair of a paraesophageal hernia, dysphagia should be reported to the HCP. The corrective fundoplication surgery may have the stomach fundus wrapped too tight around the esophagus, causing food obstruction.
Choice D rationale
Offering the patient liquids instead might alleviate the symptom temporarily, but it does not solve the potential problem. The healthcare provider needs to be informed about the dysphagia to assess and treat the possible complication.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
Choice A rationale
Flank pain is not typically associated with a bowel obstruction. It is more commonly associated with kidney problems.
Choice B rationale
Watery diarrhea is not typically a symptom of bowel obstruction. Bowel obstruction usually causes constipation and inability to pass gas or stool.
Choice C rationale
Fecal vomiting is a serious symptom that can occur in severe cases of bowel obstruction. It indicates a significant blockage in the digestive tract that needs immediate medical attention.
Choice D rationale
Occult blood in the stool can be a symptom of many conditions, including bowel obstruction. However, it is not the most concerning symptom in this context.
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
Choice A rationale
Omeprazole is a proton pump inhibitor that reduces gastric acid secretion. It is used to treat conditions such as duodenal and gastric ulcers, prolonged dyspepsia, gastroesophageal reflux disease, and erosive esophagitis. Therefore, relief from acid indigestion would indicate that the medication is effective.
Choice B rationale
While headaches can be a side effect of omeprazole, relief from headaches is not a primary indicator of the medication’s effectiveness in treating conditions related to gastric acid secretion.
Choice C rationale
Diarrhea can be a side effect of omeprazole, but relief from diarrhea does not directly indicate the effectiveness of omeprazole in reducing gastric acid secretion.
Choice D rationale
Nausea can be a symptom of the conditions that omeprazole treats, but relief from nausea alone does not directly indicate the effectiveness of omeprazole in reducing gastric acid secretion.
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