The nurse is aware that in both the very young and the older adult surgical patient, the risk is much higher for:

A. Change the surgical dressing immediately to prevent infection. Changing the dressing immediately is unnecessary unless there is a significant issue, such as excessive drainage or signs of infection. Minor drainage can be observed unless there's a need for further intervention.

B. Outline the area of drainage with a pen and mark it with the date and time. This is the correct action to monitor the drainage over time. By marking the area, the nurse can track whether the drainage increases, stays the same, or decreases, which helps in assessing the wound’s status and effectiveness of the surgical dressing.

C. Make a note of the drainage on the worksheet to report it at the end of shift. While documentation is important, it is essential to monitor the drainage immediately after the initial assessment rather than waiting until the end of the shift.

D. Reinforce the dressing with clean gauze sponges and tape. Reinforcing the dressing may be appropriate if drainage is increasing or if the dressing is inadequate, but marking the area first is necessary for accurate tracking.

A. Recovery care: Recovery is a component of postoperative care, but it does not encompass all aspects of care after surgery.

B. Postoperative care: Postoperative care begins after the patient leaves the post-anesthesia care unit (PACU) and continues until full recovery, including wound healing, pain management, and preventing complications.

C. PACU care: PACU care is a phase within postoperative care but does not represent the complete postoperative period.

D. Perioperative care: Perioperative care refers to the entire surgical experience (before, during, and after surgery), not just the final phase of recovery.