A nurse is caring for a client who is postoperative and has a history of Addison’s disease. For which of the following manifestations should the nurse monitor?

Choice A: Peri-umbilical area. This is not an area that the nurse should inspect to monitor for the presence of jaundice in a client who is African American and has cholecystitis. The peri-umbilical area is the area around the navel, which is part of the skin. The skin can show jaundice, but it may be difficult to detect in clients with dark skin tones.

Choice B: Nail beds. This is not an area that the nurse should inspect to monitor for the presence of jaundice in a client who is African American and has cholecystitis. The nail beds are part of the skin that can show jaundice, but they may also be affected by other factors such as anemia, cyanosis, or nail polish.

Choice C: Webbed areas of the fingers. This is not an area that the nurse should inspect to monitor for the presence of jaundice in a client who is African American and has cholecystitis. The webbed areas of the fingers are part of the skin that can show jaundice, but they may also be influenced by other factors such as temperature, circulation, or pressure.

Choice D: Hard palate. This is an area that the nurse should inspect to monitor for the presence of jaundice in a client who is African American and has cholecystitis, which is an inflammation of the gallbladder. Jaundice is a yellowish discoloration of the skin and mucous membranes due to elevated bilirubin levels in the blood. Bilirubin is a pigment that is produced from the breakdown of red blood cells and is normally excreted in bile. If the gallbladder or bile ducts are inflamed or obstructed, bile cannot flow into the duodenum and bilirubin accumulates in the blood and tissues. The hard palate is a part of the oral mucosa that can show jaundice, especially in clients with dark skin tones.

Choice A: Bradycardia. This is not a manifestation of gastrointestinal perforation, but rather a sign of vagal stimulation, which can occur in response to gastric distension, vomiting, or suctioning. Vagal stimulation can slow down the heart rate and lower the blood pressure.

Choice B: Hyperactive bowel sounds. This is not a manifestation of gastrointestinal perforation, but rather a sign of increased intestinal motility, which can occur in response to inflammation, infection, or irritation of the gastrointestinal tract. Hyperactive bowel sounds are loud, high-pitched, and frequent.

Choice C: Report of epigastric fullness. This is not a manifestation of gastrointestinal perforation, but rather a sign of delayed gastric emptying, which can occur in response to gastric outlet obstruction, gastroparesis, or pyloric stenosis. Epigastric fullness is a feeling of pressure or discomfort in the upper abdomen after eating.

Choice D: Severe upper abdominal pain. This is a manifestation of gastrointestinal perforation, which is a life-threatening complication of peptic ulcer disease. Peptic ulcer disease is a condition that causes erosion and ulceration of the mucosal lining of the stomach or duodenum. If the ulcer penetrates through the wall of the gastrointestinal tract, it can cause perforation, which is a hole that allows gastric contents to leak into the peritoneal cavity. This can cause peritonitis, which is an inflammation and infection of the peritoneum. Peritonitis can cause severe upper abdominal pain, which may radiate to the shoulder or back. The pain may be sudden, sharp, and constant.