A nurse is admitting a client who has diabetic ketoacidosis. Which of the following types of continuous infusions should the nurse initiate?

• Postoperative ileus: Ileus is a common complication after abdominal surgery due to anesthesia, opioid use, and limited mobility. It presents as delayed return of bowel function, marked by absent bowel sounds and abdominal discomfort. In this case, the child has absent bowel sounds and increasing tenderness, supporting this risk.
• Atelectasis: Atelectasis generally presents with diminished breath sounds and hypoxia, not clear breath sounds. Although the child has shallow respirations and is refusing the incentive spirometer, there are no respiratory findings such as decreased oxygen saturation or adventitious breath sounds that support this condition currently.
• Peritonitis: Peritonitis would present with systemic symptoms like fever, severe abdominal pain, rebound tenderness, or signs of sepsis. The child has mild abdominal tenderness and stable vital signs, which do not indicate peritoneal inflammation at this time.
• Urinary retention: This would be characterized by lack of urination, bladder distension, or discomfort—none of which are noted in the scenario. The child’s urinary output and bladder status are not identified as concerns, making this diagnosis unlikely.
• Absent bowel sounds: This is a key clinical sign of ileus. After surgery, bowel activity should return gradually. Continued absence of sounds, especially along with abdominal tenderness, strongly indicates impaired gastrointestinal motility.
• Shallow respirations: While shallow breathing is often a contributing factor to respiratory complications, in the context of abdominal surgery, it also limits diaphragmatic movement, which can further suppress bowel activity and contribute to postoperative ileus.
• Clear breath sounds: This is a normal respiratory finding and does not support the presence of atelectasis or other pulmonary complications. It suggests that lung fields are adequately ventilated despite shallow breathing.
• Intact abdominal dressing: This is an expected postoperative finding and does not support a diagnosis of infection, wound complication, or ileus. It indicates proper surgical wound healing.

A. "Take your temperature every night before going to bed." Basal body temperature (BBT) must be measured after a full night’s sleep, not at bedtime, to accurately detect ovulatory shifts in temperature.
B. "Take your temperature 1 hour after getting out of bed." Delaying the measurement even by an hour can alter the results, as physical activity and environmental exposure can cause inaccurate readings.
C. "Take your temperature immediately after waking and before getting out of bed." This is the correct instruction. BBT should be taken at the same time each morning, right after waking, before any activity, to detect the slight rise in temperature (0.3–0.6°C or 0.5–1.0°F) that typically follows ovulation.
D. "Take your temperature within 30 minutes after your first morning void." Waiting until after voiding can also affect the reading. The temperature should be taken prior to any physical movement, including going to the bathroom, for best accuracy.