A nurse is reinforcing teaching with the partner of a client who is immobile. Which of the following instructions should the nurse give the partner about turning the client in bed?

The correct answer is choice d. “Have you had small liquid stools?”

Choice A rationale:

While knowing the types of foods the client has been eating can provide insight into dietary habits that may contribute to constipation, it is not the most direct question to identify a fecal impaction.

Choice B rationale:

Asking about the use of stool softeners or laxatives is relevant to understanding the client’s bowel management, but it does not directly indicate the presence of a fecal impaction.

Choice C rationale:

Passing gas can indicate that there is some bowel movement, but it does not confirm or rule out a fecal impaction.

Choice D rationale:

Small liquid stools can be a sign of fecal impaction, as liquid stool may leak around the impacted mass. This makes it the most important question to ask when suspecting a fecal impaction.

The correct answer is choice D. The client has tenderness and warmth in their calf.

Choice A rationale:

The client's self-reported incisional pain level of 7 on a scale of 0 to 10 is important information to assess postoperative recovery, but it is not the priority finding to report among the choices. Pain management is crucial, but potential complications that could be more urgent should be addressed first.

Choice B rationale:

Increased nausea and chills are concerning postoperative findings, but they could be related to the body's response to surgery, anesthesia, or pain medications. While these symptoms should be monitored and managed, they are not as high-priority as potential complications involving the calf.

Choice C rationale:

An oral temperature of 38.5°C (101.3°F) indicates a fever and is also a concerning finding in the postoperative period. Infection could be a possible cause, and the provider should be informed. However, compared to tenderness and warmth in the calf, which could suggest deep vein thrombosis (DVT), the fever is of slightly lower priority.

Choice D rationale:

Tenderness and warmth in the calf are the priority findings to report. These symptoms raise concern about the possibility of deep vein thrombosis (DVT), a serious complication after surgery. DVT occurs when a blood clot forms in a deep vein, commonly in the legs. If left untreated, it can lead to a pulmonary embolism, a life-threatening condition where the clot travels to the lungs. Immediate assessment and intervention are necessary to rule out or address this potentially critical complication.