A nurse is monitoring the urinary output of an adult client who had a colon resection.
Which of the following 24-hr output totals indicates oliguria?

Choice A rationale

While pain management is crucial postoperatively, teaching the client how to use a PCA pump does not directly prevent common postoperative complications like pneumonia, deep vein thrombosis, or wound infections. These complications are more directly addressed by respiratory exercises and early mobilization.

Choice B rationale

Instructing the client on coughing and deep breathing exercises is essential for preventing postoperative pulmonary complications such as atelectasis and pneumonia. These exercises help to expand the lungs, mobilize secretions, and improve oxygenation, reducing the risk of infection and respiratory distress.

Choice C rationale

Explaining the importance of early ambulation is vital in preventing several postoperative complications. Mobilization improves circulation, reducing the risk of deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism. It also helps to promote bowel function and prevent constipation, as well as aiding in lung expansion and preventing atelectasis.

Choice D rationale

Discussing the use of incentive spirometry is important for preventing postoperative respiratory complications. Incentive spirometry encourages deep and sustained inhalation, which helps to expand the alveoli, improve lung volume, and prevent atelectasis and pneumonia.

Choice A rationale

Encouraging the patient to write down questions promotes active engagement in their care and ensures that all their concerns are addressed during the consultation with the provider. This empowers the patient to seek clarification and understand the proposed plan of care directly from the healthcare professional responsible for it.

Choice B rationale

Providing internet articles about colon cancer stages can overwhelm the newly diagnosed patient with potentially complex and sometimes unreliable information. The specifics of the patient's diagnosis and treatment plan should come directly from their healthcare provider, who can tailor the information to their individual situation and answer specific questions.

Choice C rationale

While it is true that the provider will explain the planned treatment, this response does not actively address the patient's immediate need for information and may make the patient feel dismissed. Encouraging the patient to prepare questions ensures a more productive and informative discussion with the provider.

Choice D rationale

Explaining treatment options based on cancer stage is the responsibility of the healthcare provider, who has the complete clinical picture and can discuss the risks, benefits, and potential outcomes of each option in the context of the patient's specific case. The nurse's role at this stage is to facilitate communication between the patient and the provider, not to provide detailed medical explanations.