After ensuring a postoperative client has a patent airway, what is the next most important nursing assessment?
Level of consciousness
Condition of drains
Appearance of the surgical dressing
Stability of vital signs
The Correct Answer is D
A. Level of consciousness: While important, it follows the assessment of vital signs to ensure the client's overall stability.
B. Condition of drains: This is relevant but not as immediate as assessing the stability of vital signs.
C. Appearance of the surgical dressing: This is important but secondary to ensuring the client’s vital signs are stable.
D. Stability of vital signs: This is the most critical next assessment after ensuring a patent airway, as vital signs reflect the client's immediate physiological status and stability.
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Related Questions
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
A. Discard the container of formula every 12 hours: While this is important for preventing contamination, it does not directly address the risk of aspiration.
B. Irrigate the tube with sterile water before administering medications: This helps maintain tube patency and prevent clogging but does not significantly impact the prevention of aspiration.
C. Measure & record the residual volume after each feeding: Monitoring residuals is crucial for assessing gastric emptying and preventing overfeeding but does not directly prevent aspiration.
D. Keep head of bed elevated 30 degrees: This is the correct choice. Elevating the head of the bed reduces the risk of aspiration by ensuring that gravity helps keep the feeding in the stomach and minimizes the risk of reflux into the esophagus.
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
A. A 58-year-old client who uses antacids every day: Antacids primarily affect gastric acid levels and are not typically associated with respiratory acidosis. They might affect metabolic balance but not respiratory acidosis.
B. A 48-year-old client with an anxiety disorder: Anxiety disorders are more commonly associated with respiratory alkalosis due to hyperventilation, not respiratory acidosis.
C. A 68-year-old client with chronic lung disease: This is the correct choice because chronic lung diseases, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), often impair CO2 elimination, leading to respiratory acidosis due to CO2 retention.
D. A 28-year-old client with salicylate intoxication: Salicylate intoxication is often associated with metabolic acidosis, and initially, it can cause respiratory alkalosis due to hyperventilation, rather than respiratory acidosis.
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