A client who had abdominal surgery reports feeling "a pop”. in his incisional area followed by severe pain when he turned in bed earlier in his shift; he now reports feeling "wet”. in his abdominal area under his gown and dressing. The nurse should:

Call for assistance and stay with client.

Remove dressing to assess wound.

Cover wound with sterile towels soaked in sterile saline.

Assess vital signs.

Answer and Explanation

The Correct Answer is A

Choice A reason:

The nurse should call for assistance and stay with the client because the client is likely experiencing wound evisceration, which is a surgical emergency that requires immediate intervention. Wound evisceration is the protrusion of bowel through an abdominal incision, and it can occur 4 to 5 days postoperatively following an increase in strain on the incision, such as from turning, coughing, sneezing, or vomiting. Clients often report feeling something has "popped”. or opened in the wound, followed by severe pain and a sensation of wetness. The nurse should not leave the client alone or attempt to reinsert the bowel.

Choice B reason:

The nurse should not remove the dressing to assess the wound because this could increase the risk of infection and further injury to the wound. The nurse should cover the wound with a nonadherent dressing moistened with warm sterile normal saline to protect the wound from contamination and drying. Removing the dressing could also cause more pain and bleeding to the client.

Choice C reason:

The nurse should not cover the wound with sterile towels soaked in sterile saline because this could cause maceration of the skin and increase the risk of infection. The nurse should use a nonadherent dressing moistened with warm sterile normal saline to prevent adherence to the wound and allow for drainage. Sterile towels could also be too bulky and heavy for the wound.

Choice D reason:

The nurse should not assess vital signs as the first action because this would delay the urgent care needed for the client. The nurse should call for assistance and stay with the client while covering the wound with a nonadherent dressing moistened with warm sterile normal saline. Assessing vital signs can be done after securing help and stabilizing the wound. Vital signs may show signs of shock, such as hypotension, tachycardia, tachypnea, and pallor. A) Call for assistance and stay with client. B) Remove dressing to assess wound. C) Cover wound with sterile towels soaked in sterile saline. D) Assess vital signs.

Nursing Test Bank

Quiz #1: RN Exams Pharmacology Exams Quiz #2: RN Exams Medical-Surgical Exams Quiz #3: RN Exams Fundamentals Exams Quiz #4: RN Exams Maternal-Newborn Exams Quiz #5: RN Exams Anatomy and Physiology Exams Quiz #6: RN Exams Obstetrics and Pediatrics Exams Quiz #7: RN Exams Fluid and Electrolytes Exams Quiz #8: RN Exams Community Health Exams Quiz #9: RN Exams Promoting Health across the lifespan Exams Quiz #10: RN Exams Multidimensional care Exams

Get 100+ Naxlex Exit Exams for $79 Try Naxlex NCLEX-RN (14 Day Free-Trial)

Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams

Quiz #1: Naxlex RN Comprehensive online practice 2019 B with NGN Quiz #2: Naxlex RN Comprehensive Predictor 2023 Quiz #3: Naxlex RN Comprehensive Predictor 2023 Exit Exam A Quiz #4: Naxlex HESI Exit LPN Exam Quiz #5: Naxlex PN Comprehensive Predictor PN 2020 Quiz #6: Naxlex VATI PN Comprehensive Predictor 2020 Quiz #8: Naxlex PN Comprehensive Predictor 2023 - Exam 1 Quiz #10: Naxlex HESI PN Exit exam Quiz #11: Naxlex HESI PN EXIT Exam 2

Free Nursing Study Resources

Correct Answer is A

Explanation

Choice A reason:

A wound infection is the most likely diagnosis for a client who has redness, warmth, swelling, and purulent drainage at the incision site 24 hours after an appendectomy. These are signs of inflammation and infection that indicate the wound is not healing properly. A wound infection can delay wound healing, increase pain, and cause fever and systemic symptoms. A wound infection requires treatment with antibiotics and wound care.

Choice B reason:

A wound dehiscence is a partial or complete separation of the edges of a surgical incision. It usually occurs later than 24 hours after surgery, when the wound is still fragile and weak. A wound dehiscence can be caused by stress on the wound, such as coughing, vomiting, or straining, or by poor wound closure, infection, or malnutrition. A wound dehiscence may present with increased drainage, a visible gap in the incision, or a popping sensation. A wound dehiscence requires immediate medical attention and may need surgical repair.

Choice C reason:

A wound evisceration is a rare but serious complication of a wound dehiscence, where the abdominal organs protrude through the open incision. It is a surgical emergency that requires immediate intervention to prevent organ damage, infection, and shock. A wound evisceration may present with sudden pain, a gush of blood or serous fluid, and visible organs through the wound. The client should lie down with knees bent and cover the wound with a sterile dressing moistened with warm saline until help arrives.

Choice D reason:

A wound hematoma is a collection of blood under the skin or in the deeper tissues that results from bleeding at the surgical site. It usually occurs within the first few hours after surgery and may cause swelling, pain, bruising, and pressure on nearby structures. A wound hematoma can increase the risk of infection and impair wound healing. A small hematoma may resolve on its own, while a large hematoma may need drainage or surgery.

A. "I will not be able to move or feel anything below my waist.” B. "I will have to stay awake during the surgery.” C. "I will need someone to drive me home after the surgery.” D. "I will have less risk of nausea and vomiting than with general anesthesia.” E. "I will have to fast for at least 8 hours before the surgery.".

Correct Answer is ["B","C"]

Explanation

Choice A reason:

This statement is correct. Regional anesthesia blocks the sensation of pain and other sensations from a specific part of the body, such as below the waist for spinal or epidural anesthesia. The client will not be able to move or feel anything in the affected area during the surgery.

Choice B reason:

This statement is incorrect. Regional anesthesia does not require the client to stay awake during the surgery, unless the client prefers to do so. The client can also receive sedation or general anesthesia along with regional anesthesia, depending on the type and duration of the surgery and the client's preference.

Choice C reason:

This statement is incorrect. Regional anesthesia can have residual effects on the client's motor and sensory function, as well as blood pressure and heart rate, for several hours after the surgery. The client will need someone to drive them home after the surgery and monitor them for any signs of complications.

Choice D reason:

This statement is correct. Regional anesthesia has some advantages over general anesthesia, such as less risk of nausea and vomiting, less blood loss, less stress response, and better postoperative pain control.

Choice E reason:

This statement is correct. Regional anesthesia does not affect the client's ability to swallow or protect their airway, unlike general anesthesia. However, the client will still have to fast for at least 8 hours before the surgery to prevent aspiration of stomach contents in case general anesthesia or sedation is needed or administered.

View Question and Answer

Whether you are a student looking to ace your exams or a practicing nurse seeking to enhance your expertise , our nursing education contents will empower you with the confidence and competence to make a difference in the lives of patients and become a respected leader in the healthcare field.

Visit Naxlex, invest in your future and unlock endless possibilities with our unparalleled nursing education contents today

A client who had abdominal surgery reports feeling "a pop”. in his incisional area followed by severe pain when he turned in bed earlier in his shift; he now reports feeling "wet”. in his abdominal area under his gown and dressing. The nurse should:

Nursing Test Bank

Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams

A nurse is assessing a client who had an appendectomy 24 hours ago. The nurse observes redness, warmth, swelling, and purulent drainage at the incision site. The nurse suspects that the client has developed:

Correct Answer is A

Explanation

The nurse is reviewing the informed consent form with a client who is scheduled for surgery with regional anesthesia. Which of the following statements by the client indicates a need for further teaching? (Select all that apply.)

Correct Answer is ["B","C"]

Explanation

A nurse is assisting with the induction of general anesthesia for a client who is undergoing a cholecystectomy. The nurse monitors the client for signs of malignant hyperthermia, which include:

A nurse is evaluating the discharge instructions for a client who had a mastectomy with lymph node dissection. The nurse instructs the client to avoid:

The scrub nurse is preparing for an emergency cesarean section for a client who has a positive HIV test result. The nurse plans care knowing that which of these precautions will be implemented?

The nurse is assisting with positioning a client for surgery in the lateral position. Which action by the nurse demonstrates proper technique?

A nurse is monitoring a patient who had general anesthesia for a hernia repair. Which of the following findings indicate that the patient is at risk for hypothermia? (Select all that apply.)

A nurse is reviewing discharge instructions with a client who had a laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Which of the following statements by the client indicates a need for further teaching? (Select all that apply.)

The nurse is caring for a client who had spinal anesthesia for surgery on his right foot. Which assessment finding requires immediate intervention by the nurse?

A nurse is caring for a patient who underwent surgery for appendicitis and has developed wound dehiscence with evisceration on postoperative day 3. What is the priority nursing intervention?