A patient is admitted to the postanesthesia care unit (PACU) with a blood pressure (BP) 122/72 mm Hg. Thirty minutes after admission, the BP is 114/62, with a pulse of 74 and warm, dry skin. Which action by the nurse is most appropriate?
Continue to take vital signs every 15 minutes.
Notify the anesthesia care provider (ACP).
Increase the postoperative IV fluid rate.
Administer oxygen therapy at 100% per mask.
The Correct Answer is A
A. Vital sign monitoring every 15 minutes is a standard practice in the postanesthesia care unit (PACU) to closely monitor the patient's hemodynamic status and response to anesthesia. However, in this scenario, the patient's blood pressure (BP) and other vital signs are within an acceptable range, and there are no signs of instability.
B. The patient's vital signs, including BP, pulse rate, and skin condition, are within normal limits. There are no indications of hemodynamic instability or adverse events.
C. There is no indication to increase the postoperative intravenous (IV) fluid rate based solely on the patient's stable vital signs and absence of signs of dehydration or hypovolemia. Increasing IV fluids without clinical indication may lead to fluid overload and potential complications.
D. The patient's oxygen saturation level is not provided in the scenario, and there are no signs or symptoms of respiratory distress or hypoxemia. Therefore, administering oxygen therapy at 100% per mask is not warranted at this time.
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Related Questions
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
C. This option is appropriate as the current treatment protocol is not effectively managing the patient's pain. The nurse can collaborate with the healthcare provider to reassess the patient's pain management needs and explore alternative strategies or adjustments to the PCA regimen.
A. This approach may lead to overmedication and increase the risk of adverse effects such as respiratory depression or sedation.
B. Requesting a bolus dose when the patient awakens with pain could be a part of the solution, but it should be carefully evaluated within the context of the overall pain management plan.
D. Administering scheduled doses of morphine from the PCA machine without the patient's input or based solely on time intervals is not recommended.
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
D. Tachypnea is a classic early manifestation of fat embolism syndrome. Fat emboli can travel to the lungs and obstruct blood flow, leading to respiratory distress and hypoxemia. Tachypnea is the body's response to hypoxemia, as it attempts to increase oxygen intake by breathing more rapidly.
A. Swelling of the calf can occur with conditions such as deep vein thrombosis (DVT), but it is not typically an early manifestation of fat embolism syndrome.
B. tachycardia is more commonly seen due to the body's response to decreased oxygen levels and increased demand on the cardiovascular system.
C. Hypertension is not typically associated with fat embolism syndrome. Instead, hypotension can occur due to decreased cardiac output and systemic vasodilation in severe cases of fat embolism syndrome.
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