A nurse is monitoring a client who is postoperative following a thyroidectomy. Which of the following data should the nurse identify as the priority to monitor?
Airway patency
Temperature
Pain control
Urination
The Correct Answer is A
Rationale:
A. Airway patency is the highest priority following a thyroidectomy due to the risk of airway obstruction from swelling or hematoma formation near the surgical site. Compromised airway can lead to respiratory distress and requires immediate attention.
B. While monitoring temperature is important for detecting potential infections, it is not the immediate priority.
C. Pain control is important for comfort and recovery, but it is not life-threatening.
D. Urination should be monitored postoperatively, but it is not as critical as ensuring a patent airway.
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Correct Answer is C
Explanation
Rationale:
A. Limiting walking episodes may reduce discomfort but does not address the underlying issue or potential complications.
B. While leg cramps can be common during pregnancy, calf pain could also indicate a more serious condition, such as deep vein thrombosis (DVT), and should not be dismissed as normal without further investigation.
C. Gathering further assessment data is crucial to determine the cause of the calf pain, as it may indicate DVT, a potentially life-threatening condition. The nurse should assess for other symptoms like swelling, redness, or warmth in the leg.
D. Instructing the client to elevate the legs may be appropriate for general discomfort, but without proper assessment, it may not be the correct intervention if DVT is present.
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
Rationale:
A. Hemoglobin A1C reflects average blood glucose levels over the past 2 to 3 months, not just after meals, so this statement is not fully accurate.
B. A high A1C indicates chronically high blood glucose levels, not low blood sugar levels, so this statement would be misleading.
C. An A1C of 9% indicates that the client's average blood sugar has been high over the past few months, which increases the risk of diabetes-related complications.
D. While a high A1C may suggest variability in blood glucose levels, the more accurate statement is that the average blood glucose is high, which is what the A1C primarily reflects