The nurse is caring for a 13-year-old who is 2 days post-operative from a laparoscopic appendectomy. Upon assessment, the nurse notes the following vital signs: 37,1°C (98.8°F), a pain rating of 3 out of 10, and breath sounds are diminished in the lower lobes. What action should the nurse take first?
Maintain prone positioning.
Request a laboratory prescription for a white blood cell count.
Administer prescribed acetaminophen.
Encourage the use of an incentive spirometer.
The Correct Answer is D
Rationale:
A. Prone positioning is not recommended post-operatively for abdominal surgery and could exacerbate respiratory issues.
B. While monitoring white blood cell count is important, encouraging lung expansion and preventing complications such as atelectasis is a more immediate priority.
C. The client's pain rating is low and does not necessitate immediate administration of acetaminophen.
D. Encouraging the use of an incentive spirometer helps improve lung expansion, which is crucial to prevent atelectasis and promote proper oxygenation, particularly when breath sounds are diminished.
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Correct Answer is D
Explanation
Rationale:
A. While explaining discharge instructions is important, it is not the immediate priority following cast application.
B. Educating the client to elevate the leg is important to reduce swelling, but it is not the first priority.
C. Administering pain relief is necessary, but assessing circulation, sensation, and movement is more critical to identify any early signs of complications.
D. Performing a neurovascular assessment is the priority action because it ensures that there is no compromise to blood flow, sensation, or movement in the affected limb, which could indicate complications such as compartment syndrome.
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
Rationale:
A. Increasing fiber intake is beneficial for overall digestive health and can prevent constipation, which may help in reducing the risk of UTIs.
B. Wiping from front to back is crucial in preventing the spread of bacteria from the anal area to the urinary tract, reducing the risk of recurrent UTIs.
C. Follow-up with a specialist may be necessary if the child has recurrent UTIs, to rule out underlying issues such as vesicoureteral reflux.
D. No additional testing after antibiotics might be needed for a simple UTI, but in cases of recurrent UTIs, further testing is often required to ensure the infection has resolved and to investigate any underlying causes.