A nurse is caring for a client who is 2 days postoperative following abdominal surgery and observes that the client's wound has eviscerated. After calling for help, which of the following actions should the nurse take first?
Place the client supine with knees bent.
Assess the client for manifestations of shock.
Cover the area with a sterile dressing, moistened with 0.9% sodium chloride irrigation.
Raise the head of the client's bed 15° to 20°.
The Correct Answer is C
Rationale:
A. Placing the client supine with knees bent helps reduce abdominal pressure, but it is not the first action. Protecting the exposed organs from infection or drying out takes priority.
B. Assessing for manifestations of shock is important, but the immediate concern is to prevent further injury or infection to the exposed tissues.
C. The priority action when a wound eviscerates is to cover the area with a sterile dressing moistened with 0.9% sodium chloride solution to keep the organs moist and prevent infection until surgical repair can be done.
D. Raising the head of the bed slightly may help reduce pressure, but it is not the most immediate action compared to covering the exposed organs to prevent drying or infection.
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Correct Answer is ["A","B","E"]
Explanation
Rationale:
A. The opening of the pouch should be cut about 1/8 of an inch larger than the stoma to ensure a proper fit without restricting blood flow or irritating the stoma.
B. Placing a gauze over the stoma during a pouch change helps to absorb any discharge and keep the area clean while preparing the new appliance.
C. Povidone-iodine should not be used to clean around the stoma, as it can irritate the skin. The skin should be cleaned with mild soap and water or a recommended stoma cleanser.
D. A stoma that turns purple-blue is a sign of impaired blood flow and requires immediate medical attention. A healthy stoma should appear pink or red and moist.
E. The ostomy pouch should be emptied when it is about one-third full to prevent leakage, odor, and unnecessary pressure on the stoma.
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
Rationale:
A. Application of antibiotic ointment involves assessment and clinical judgment, which should be performed by a licensed nurse rather than an AP.
B. The removal of a nasogastric tube is a nursing task that requires training and knowledge of potential complications, and it should not be assigned to an AP.
C. Monitoring vital signs of a client who had an appendectomy 12 hours ago can be safely delegated to an AP, as it is a basic task that does not require clinical judgment beyond standard procedures.
D. Obtaining medical history information from a stable client is a task that requires assessment skills and critical thinking, making it inappropriate to assign to an AP.