The nurse reviews the nurse’s notes and flow chart to identify trends.

Click to specify the notations that require immediate follow up (more than one notation may be correct.)

Exhibit 1: Patient’s Medical History

• Height: 5 ft 6 in (168 cm)
• Weight: 140 lb (63.5 kg)
• Delivery: The patient was transferred to the postpartum unit 1 hour after delivery of a 9 lb 1 oz (4.1 kg) female.

Exhibit 2: Nurse’s Notes and Flow Sheet

The patient was assisted to the bathroom where she voided 150 mL of clear yellow urine. Lochia rubra was moderate with small clots, no foul odor noted. The fundus was firm at the umbilicus. The episiotomy edges were well approximated, with no redness, edema, drainage, or ecchymosis. There was no pain, redness, or swelling in the calves.

• Boggy fundus 1 cm above the umbilicus
• Fundus rotated to the right
• Voided 200 mL of clear yellow urine

Exhibit 3: Vital Signs

• Heart rate: 96 beats/minute
• Blood pressure: 90/62 mm Hg

Exhibit 4: Provider’s Prescriptions

• IV infusing at 125 mL/hr
• A 1,000 mL bag of lactated Ringer’s solution containing 10 units of oxytocin is infusing.

Exhibit 5: Physical Examination Results

• Episiotomy: Intact with no redness
• Body System: Genital/Urinary and Circulatory

Choice A rationale

Serum albumin levels can be relevant in assessing nutritional status and the body’s ability to heal wounds. However, they do not directly indicate the presence of infection or purulent drainage.

Choice B rationale

Hematocrit measures the percentage of red blood cells in the blood and is not directly related to the presence of purulent drainage at a burn wound site. Elevated hematocrit may indicate dehydration or hemoconcentration but does not specifically address the issue of wound infection.

Choice C rationale

Serum blood glucose (BG) level is not directly related to the presence of purulent drainage at a burn wound site. Elevated BG levels might be seen in clients with diabetes or as a stress response, but they are not the primary indicator of infection or wound complications.

Choice D rationale

Neutrophil count is a key laboratory value to note when a client with a full-thickness burn has purulent drainage at the wound. An elevated neutrophil count can indicate an infection, which could be the cause of the purulent drainage.

Choice A rationale

Assisting the spouse and carefully giving the patient small sips of water may seem like a compassionate action. However, it could potentially lead to aspiration if the patient’s swallowing reflex is compromised, which is common in stroke patients.

Choice B rationale

While obtaining thickening powder before providing any more fluids can help prevent aspiration in patients with dysphagia, it is not the immediate action the nurse should take. The nurse first needs to assess the patient’s swallowing reflex before deciding on the appropriate intervention.

Choice C rationale

The nurse should ask the spouse to stop and assess the patient’s swallowing reflex. This is the most immediate and appropriate action. Stroke patients often have impaired swallowing reflexes, which can lead to aspiration if not properly managed. By assessing the swallowing reflex, the nurse can determine the best course of action to ensure the patient’s safety.

Choice D rationale

Giving the spouse a straw to help facilitate the patient’s drinking is not the best course of action. Straws can increase the risk of aspiration in patients with impaired swallowing reflexes. The nurse should first assess the patient’s swallowing reflex before deciding on the appropriate intervention.