A nurse has been assigned to an internal disaster drill team and is triaging clients. Which of the following clients should the nurse classify with a green tag?

Choice A reason: Amniocentesis involves needle insertion through the uterine wall, which can irritate the uterus and trigger contractions, risking preterm labor at 33 weeks. Monitoring contractions is vital to detect early labor signs, enabling interventions like tocolytics to delay delivery. This protects the premature fetus, ensuring better outcomes by maintaining pregnancy until closer to term.
Choice B reason: Vomiting is not a typical amniocentesis complication. The procedure is localized to the uterus, with minimal systemic effects. Nausea may occur from anxiety, but vomiting is rare and not a priority for monitoring. Focus remains on uterine and fetal complications, like contractions or fluid leakage, which directly impact pregnancy safety and outcomes.
Choice C reason: Hypertension is not directly linked to amniocentesis. The procedure does not typically affect maternal cardiovascular function, as it’s a localized intervention. Monitoring for hypertension is more relevant for conditions like preeclampsia. Post-amniocentesis, the priority is uterine activity and fetal distress, not blood pressure, making this an irrelevant complication to monitor.
Choice D reason: Polyuria is not associated with amniocentesis, as the procedure does not impact renal function or fluid balance. The focus is on complications like contractions, bleeding, or amniotic fluid leakage, which pose direct risks to the pregnancy. Monitoring polyuria is unnecessary, as it does not reflect the procedure’s physiological effects or risks.

Choice A reason: Percussion precedes palpation to assess abdominal resonance and organ size without altering bowel motility. Performing it last risks inaccurate findings, as palpation may stimulate peristalsis, changing resonance patterns. This sequence ensures reliable detection of abnormalities like organomegaly or fluid accumulation in the abdomen.
Choice B reason: Auscultation is done before palpation to capture natural bowel sounds. Manipulation during palpation can alter peristalsis, affecting auscultatory findings. Early auscultation ensures accurate detection of hypoactive or hyperactive bowel sounds, critical for diagnosing conditions like ileus or obstruction in abdominal assessments.
Choice C reason: Palpation is the final step, following inspection, auscultation, and percussion, to assess for tenderness or masses. This sequence prevents manipulation from altering earlier findings, ensuring accurate identification of abdominal abnormalities like peritonitis or organ enlargement, critical for a comprehensive physical examination.
Choice D reason: Inspection is the first step, providing a visual baseline of abdominal appearance, such as distension or scars. Performing it last misses initial cues guiding subsequent steps. Early inspection ensures no manipulation affects visual assessment, vital for identifying external signs of underlying abdominal pathology.