The nurse of a medical-surgical unit receives a report from a postanesthesia care unit (PACU) nurse for a client who is being transferred following a right hemicolectomy. The PACU nurse reports, "The client has an IV infusion of 1,000 mL lactated Ringer's infusing at 125 mL/hr into the left wrist with 300 mL remaining. Prescriptions include morphine sulfate 2 mg IV every 2 to 4 hours for pain, last administered 30 minutes ago; ondansetron 4 mg IV every 8 hours for nausea, last administered 15 minutes ago." Which additional information is most important for the nurse to obtain in the report?

Peripheral pulses present with full range of motion of both legs.

History of vomiting at home for 3 days prior to surgery.

Troubled by a dry mouth but refuses to take ice chips.

Soft abdomen, absent bowel sounds, no bleeding on dressing.

Answer and Explanation

The Correct Answer is D

A.   While it's important to know about peripheral pulses and mobility, this is not as critical immediately post-op.
B.   A history of vomiting is relevant but not immediately actionable for the current post-op care.
C.   Dry mouth is a common and manageable symptom post-op, but not immediately critical.
D.   A soft abdomen, absent bowel sounds, and no bleeding on dressing provide essential information on the client's current post-op status and potential complications, making it the most important information to confirm.

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Correct Answer is D

Explanation

A. Lorazepam is not indicated for preventing Wernicke's syndrome.

B. Famotidine is a histamine-2 blocker used to reduce stomach acid secretion and treat gastritis symptoms but does not prevent Wernicke's syndrome.
C. Atenolol is a beta-blocker used to treat hypertension and angina, not to prevent Wernicke's syndrome.
D. Thiamine supplementation is essential in individuals with chronic alcohol abuse to prevent Wernicke's syndrome, which is caused by thiamine deficiency.

A. Encourage sitting up and ambulation B. Monitor for bleeding once daily C. Use Incentive spirometer every 1 hour D. Promote adequate hydration E. Assess for sedation after pain medications F. Complete neurologic assessment every 2 hours G. Administer pain medication after activity

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

Explanation

A. Early ambulation helps prevent complications such as atelectasis, pneumonia, and deep vein thrombosis (DVT). It also promotes intestinal motility.
B. Monitoring for bleeding should be more frequent, especially in the immediate postoperative period, rather than just once daily.
C. This helps prevent respiratory complications such as atelectasis and promotes lung expansion.
D. Adequate hydration is essential to maintain fluid balance, promote healing, and prevent complications such as urinary tract infections and constipation.
E. Monitoring for sedation is crucial to ensure that pain medications are not causing excessive drowsiness, which could impair the client's ability to participate in activities such as ambulation and use of the incentive spirometer.

F. While assessing neurological status is important, frequent neurological assessments are more relevant for clients with neurological conditions or concerns. In this case, routine assessments should be sufficient unless the client has specific neurological symptoms.
G. Pain medications should be administered prophylactically before activity. However, it can also be administered after activity in case the client complains of pain.

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Nursing Test Bank

Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams

A client is admitted to a medical unit with a diagnosis of gastritis and chronic heavy alcohol abuse. Which medication should the nurse administer to prevent the development of Wernicke's syndrome?

Correct Answer is D

Explanation

Patient Data Exhibits Click to select the 5 most important nursing interventions for postoperative client care.

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

Explanation

A client with a prescription for "do not resuscitate" (DNR) begins to manifest signs of impending death. After notifying the family of the client's status, which priority action should the nurse implement?

A client with an acute myocardial infarction (MI) is given a thrombolytic medication, aspirin, and IV heparin in the emergency department. Which finding indicates the client is having a satisfactory response?

The nurse is preparing a client for discharge who underwent a percutaneous nephrolithotomy with nephrostomy tube placement. Which instruction should the nurse include in the client's postoperative discharge teaching?

A client who underwent cardiac stent placement four days ago arrives to the emergency department reporting a sudden onset of chest pressure and shortness of breath. Which action should the nurse take next?

After receiving a change of shift report for clients on a medical surgical unit, which activity should the nurse delegate to the practical nurse (PN)?

A client who is participating in an anger management assignment asks to make a leather belt in occupational therapy. The client begins pounding the leather vigorously with a mallet to imprint designs on the belt. Which defense mechanism is the client using?

Exhibits What goal(s) should the nurse prioritize in the care plan for the client while in the emergency department? Select all that apply.

Which is the priority nursing problem for a client with hypoparathyroidism?