A nurse is reviewing the medical record for a newly admitted client. Which of the following laboratory values should the nurse report to the provider?

Choice A reason:
Documenting the fluid infusion in the client's chart: While documenting the fluid infusion is important, assessing the client's vital signs should take priority to ensure their immediate safety and well-being.
Choice B reason:
Completing an incident report is incorrect Completing an incident report is a necessary step to document the error and initiate appropriate follow-up actions, but it should come after assessing the client's condition.
Choice C reason
Obtaining the client's vital signs is the correct answer. The correct first action for the nurse to take in this situation is to obtain the client's vital signs. Administering an excessive amount of IV fluid could potentially have adverse effects on the client's cardiovascular system, including fluid overload, electrolyte imbalances, and changes in blood pressure. Monitoring the client's vital signs will help assess their current condition and any potential complications resulting from the excess fluid administration.
Choice D reason
Reporting the incident to the unit manager is incorrect. Reporting the incident to the unit manager is important for organizational awareness and accountability, but the nurse's first responsibility is to assess the client's vital signs and address any potential complications.

Choice A reason:
Palpation can help assess for tenderness, rigidity, or masses in the abdomen, which might indicate infection, bleeding, or other complications. However, palpation could potentially worsen a condition such as an evisceration or dehiscence, or cause additional pain. Therefore, palpation should be done only after the visual inspection and with great caution in the presence of severe pain.
Choice B reason:
Percussion is useful for assessing the presence of gas, fluid, or solid masses in the abdomen. Resonance might indicate normal air-filled intestines, while dullness could suggest fluid or mass. However, percussion is not the first action in an acute setting of sudden severe pain because it does not provide immediate information that could be life-saving. It is a later step in the physical examination.
Choice C reason:
Visual inspection is the first step because it can quickly reveal critical signs such as swelling, distention, redness, or evidence of wound complications like dehiscence or evisceration. Identifying these signs early allows for rapid intervention, which could be life-saving. This is why exposing and inspecting the abdomen is the priority in the context of sudden severe pain following surgery.
Choice D reason:
Listening for bowel sounds can provide information about the function of the gastrointestinal system. Absence of bowel sounds might suggest a paralytic ileus, while hyperactive sounds could indicate a bowel obstruction. However, in the context of sudden, severe abdominal pain postoperatively, auscultation is not the first priority.