The nurse is preparing a client for surgery who was admitted from the emergency department following a motor vehicle collision. The client has an open fracture of the femur and is bleeding moderately from the bone protrusion site. During the preoperative assessment, the nurse determines that the client currently receives heparin sodium 5,000 units SUBQ daily. Which nursing action is a priority?
Have the client sign the surgical and transfusion permits.
Notify the healthcare provider of the client's medication history.
Ensure that the potential for bleeding is explained to the client.
Observe the heparin injection sites for signs of bruising.
The Correct Answer is B
A. While having the client sign permits is important, it is not the priority action in this situation.
B. Notifying the healthcare provider about the client's current heparin therapy is critical, as it may influence the timing of surgery and the risk of excessive bleeding during and after the procedure.
C. While explaining the potential for bleeding is important, it should occur after ensuring the surgical team is aware of the heparin use.
D. Observing injection sites for bruising is relevant but does not address the immediate concern regarding heparin use and potential bleeding during surgery.
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Correct Answer is B
Explanation
A. restatement. Restatement involves repeating the patient’s words exactly, while here, the nurse is rephrasing the sentiment.
B. reflection. Reflection focuses on the patient’s feelings or experiences by paraphrasing their statement, helping the patient explore their feelings, which the nurse is doing here.
C. open-ended question. An open-ended question would be broad, allowing the patient to provide more information. This response is a restatement, not a question.
D. offering self. Offering self involves expressing a willingness to stay or support the patient, which is not demonstrated here.
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
A. While hematocrit levels provide information about blood volume status, they are not directly relevant to infection status or wound healing in burn patients.
B. Blood pH levels can indicate acid-base imbalances, but they do not specifically inform the nurse about the presence of infection.
C. Platelet count is important for assessing coagulation and bleeding risks, but it does not provide direct information regarding infection.
D. White blood cell (WBC) count is critical in assessing for infection, as an elevated WBC count can indicate the presence of an infection, particularly in a client with significant burns who is at increased risk for sepsis.