A PACU nurse is monitoring the drainage from a client's NG tube following abdominal surgery. Which of the following findings in the first postoperative hour should the nurse report to the provider?

75 mL of greenish-yellow drainage

150 mL of serosanguineous drainage

100 mL of red drainage

200 mL of brown drainage

Answer and Explanation

The Correct Answer is C

Choice A reason:

75 mL of greenish-yellow drainage should not be reported. This could be stomach contents or bile, which can be expected after surgery and might not be alarming.

Choice B reason:

150 mL of serosanguineous drainage should not be reported. Serosanguineous drainage is a mix of clear and slightly bloody fluid, which can be expected after surgery and may not be alarming.

Choice C reason:

100 mL of red drainage should be reported. After abdominal surgery, the drainage from an NG (nasogastric) tube is monitored to assess the client's condition and the status of their gastrointestinal system. Red drainage could indicate bleeding, which is a significant concern after surgery. The nurse should report this finding to the provider for further evaluation and intervention.

Choice D reason:

200 mL of brown drainage should not be reported. Brown drainage could also be indicative of old blood or digestive fluids, which might be expected after surgery and may not be alarming.

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Correct Answer is B

Explanation

Choice A reason:

Listening to the client's bowel sounds should not be implemented. It is important for assessing the gastrointestinal status, but the priority in this situation is to address the potential cardiac complications of hypokalaemia.

Choice B reason:

Initiating cardiac monitoring for the client should be implemented. A serum potassium level of 2.8 mEq/L is significantly low (normal range is typically around 3.5-5.0 mEq/L). Low potassium levels, known as hypokalaemia, can lead to serious cardiac arrhythmias and other complications. Therefore, the nurse should prioritize cardiac monitoring to assess for any potential changes or abnormalities in the client's heart rhythm due to the low potassium levels.

Choice C reason:

Checking the client's hand grasps should not be implemented. It is a test for muscle strength and can be indicative of hypokalaemia, but initiating cardiac monitoring is more critical at this point.

Choice D reason:

Administering an IV potassium drip may be necessary, but initiating cardiac monitoring takes precedence as the first action to ensure the client's heart rhythm is stable before addressing the potassium imbalance.

A. Initiate a continuous IV insulin infusion. B. Begin bicarbonate continuous IV infusion. C. Check potassium levels D. Administer 0.9% sodium chloride

Correct Answer is A

Explanation

Choice A reason:

Initiating a continuous IV insulin infusion is the first priority. The priority intervention for a client in diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) is to normalize blood glucose levels and reverse the ketoacidosis. Initiating a continuous IV insulin infusion is essential to rapidly lower the elevated blood glucose levels and counteract the metabolic acidosis associated with DKA.

Choice B reason:

Beginning a bicarbonate continuous IV infusion is generally not the priority in DKA management. While metabolic acidosis is a concern in DKA, insulin therapy and fluid resuscitation are typically the initial focus of treatment.

Choice C reason:

Checking potassium levels is important since potassium imbalances are common in DKA. However, while this is important, it is not the first priority. It's important to ensure that insulin therapy has been initiated before addressing potassium levels.

Choice D reason:

Administering 0.9% sodium chloride (normal saline) is a crucial part of DKA treatment but it is not the first priority as it helps correct dehydration and electrolyte imbalances. However, starting insulin therapy to address the underlying metabolic issue takes precedence.

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A PACU nurse is monitoring the drainage from a client's NG tube following abdominal surgery. Which of the following findings in the first postoperative hour should the nurse report to the provider?

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Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams

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Explanation

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