A nurse is caring for a client who is postoperative following an appendectomy.

Vital Signs

1800:

Temperature 98.4° F (36.8° C) Heart rate 104/min

Respiratory rate 22/min

Blood pressure 142/80 mm Hg

O2 saturation 97% on room air

1800:

Client alert and oriented x 4

Skin warm and dry

Lungs clear on auscultation

Bowel sounds hypoactive in all four quadrants Urine clear yellow

Incisional dressing clean and dry

Client reports pain as 6 on a scale of 0 to 10

1815:

Morphine administered as prescribed

2000:

Temperature 98.4° F (36.8° C) Heart rate 110/min Respiratory rate 24/min

Blood pressure 158/88 mm Hg O2 saturation 93% on room air

Which of the following 4 client findings should the nurse report to the provider?

A is correct because aPTT (activated partial thromboplastin time) measures the effectiveness of heparin therapy and guides dosage adjustments.

B is incorrect because PT (prothrombin time) measures the effectiveness of warfarin therapy, not heparin.

C is incorrect because INR (international normalized ratio) is a standardized version of PT that also monitors warfarin therapy, not heparin.

D is incorrect because WBC count (white blood cell count) measures the body's immune response and has no relation to heparin therapy.

Correct answer: A. Have the child take a tub bath each morning

A. Have the child take a tub bath each morning: Warm tub baths are recommended for children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) as they help to relieve joint stiffness and pain, especially in the morning. The warm water can soothe the joints, making movement easier and reducing discomfort throughout the day.

B. Apply splints to the child's extremities during the day: While splints may be used in JIA, they are typically applied during the night (resting splints) to maintain joint position and prevent contractures. Daytime use of splints (working splints) may be considered in certain situations, but generally, children are encouraged to be as active as possible during the day to maintain joint mobility.

C. Encourage the child to take naps during the day: While rest is important, encouraging too much rest during the day may contribute to joint stiffness. Regular activity helps maintain joint function and mobility, which is essential in managing JIA.

D. Keep the child on bedrest as long as pain persists: Prolonged bedrest is not recommended for children with JIA. It can lead to muscle atrophy, increased stiffness, and reduced joint mobility. Instead, the focus should be on maintaining activity within the child's pain tolerance and using pain management strategies.