Four hours after major abdominal surgery, the nurse notes that the patient does not have any bowel sounds. What is the appropriate action for the nurse to take?
Provide meticulous oral care and allow the patient to have ice chips for dry mouth.
Notify the surgeon immediately and prepare the patient for emergency surgery.
Keep the patient NPO and document the finding in the patient’s medical record.
Allow the patient to have clear liquids as tolerated to help bowel function return.
The Correct Answer is C
Choice A rationale:
While providing meticulous oral care and allowing ice chips for dry mouth can promote comfort, it does not address the primary concern of absent bowel sounds.
Ice chips could potentially stimulate bowel activity, but this is not a reliable or recommended method for managing absent bowel sounds in the immediate postoperative period.
It's essential to prioritize actions that assess and address the potential causes of absent bowel sounds, as they can indicate serious complications.
Choice B rationale:
Notifying the surgeon immediately and preparing for emergency surgery is not the appropriate first course of action in this situation.
Emergency surgery would be considered only if there were clear signs of a life-threatening complication, such as bowel perforation or peritonitis.
These complications would typically present with additional symptoms such as severe abdominal pain, fever, and hemodynamic instability.
Absent bowel sounds alone, without other concerning signs, do not warrant immediate surgical intervention.
Choice D rationale:
Allowing the patient to have clear liquids as tolerated is not appropriate when bowel sounds are absent. Introducing oral intake before bowel function has returned can increase the risk of nausea, vomiting, and aspiration.
It's crucial to wait for the return of bowel sounds before initiating oral intake to ensure proper digestion and minimize complications.
Choice C rationale:
Keeping the patient NPO (nothing by mouth) is the most appropriate action when bowel sounds are absent after major abdominal surgery.
This allows the bowel to rest and recover from the surgical manipulation.
It also prevents potential complications such as aspiration and nausea/vomiting that could arise from premature oral intake.
Documenting the absence of bowel sounds in the patient's medical record is essential for communication among healthcare providers and for monitoring the patient's progress.
This documentation provides a clear record of the patient's clinical status and facilitates appropriate decision-making regarding further interventions.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
Choice A rationale:
Aspirating prior to injecting enoxaparin is not recommended.
Aspiration was once a common practice to check if a needle had entered a blood vessel.
However, research has shown that aspiration is not necessary for subcutaneous injections and may even be harmful. It can cause pain, bruising, and hematoma formation.
Additionally, aspirating can increase the risk of needlestick injuries.
For these reasons, aspiration is no longer recommended for subcutaneous injections of enoxaparin or other anticoagulants.
Choice B rationale:
Massaging the injection site after administering enoxaparin is not recommended. Massaging can increase the risk of bruising and hematoma formation.
It can also cause the medication to be absorbed too quickly, which can increase the risk of bleeding.
The best practice is to apply gentle pressure to the injection site with a dry gauze pad for a few seconds after the injection. This will help to prevent bleeding and bruising.
Choice C rationale:
The size of the syringe and needle used to administer enoxaparin is not specified in the question. However, a 1-mL syringe with a 32-gauge needle is a common choice for subcutaneous injections.
This size syringe is small enough to be easy to handle, and the 32-gauge needle is thin enough to minimize discomfort.
Choice D rationale:
The abdomen is the preferred site for subcutaneous injections of enoxaparin.
The abdomen has a large surface area of soft tissue, which makes it easy to inject the medication.
The abdomen is also relatively free of blood vessels and nerves, which reduces the risk of bruising, bleeding, and pain. Other potential injection sites for enoxaparin include the upper arms, thighs, and buttocks.
However, the abdomen is generally the preferred site.
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
Choice A rationale:
Ineffective breathing pattern related to incisional pain and anesthesia is the priority nursing diagnosis for a patient with shallow respirations following abdominal surgery because it addresses the most immediate and life-threatening concern: impaired gas exchange.
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