The nurse is continuing to assist in the care of the client.

Exhibits

For each data collection finding, click to specify if the finding on postoperative day 1 is consistent with hypovolemic shock or pulmonary embolism. Each finding may support more than 1 disease process or none at all. There must be at least 1 selection in every column. There does not need to be a selection in every row.

A. Increase the IV flow rate: This is correct as the client’s low blood pressure could indicate hypovolemia. Increasing the IV flow rate can help improve blood volume and blood pressure, addressing a potential cause of hypotension.
B. Cover the client with a warm blanket: While this could help if the client is hypothermic, it does not address the immediate issue of low blood pressure.
C. Compare the reading to the preoperative value: While this can provide context, it does not directly address the current low blood pressure situation.
D. Reassure the client: Reassuring the client is important but does not address the urgent issue of low blood pressure.

Rationale
• Assist the client to the bathroom.
• Non-essential: The client’s current condition indicates severe changes, including a significant drop in consciousness and worsening vital signs. Immediate priorities involve stabilization and monitoring rather than assisting with bathroom needs.
• Initiate seizure precautions.
• Anticipated: The client’s deteriorating condition, including restlessness, agitation, and decreased level of consciousness, increases the risk of seizures. Initiating seizure precautions is appropriate to ensure safety.
• Record GCS every 15 min for the first 4 hr.
• Anticipated: The Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score of 9 indicates a significant decrease in consciousness. Frequent monitoring of GCS is crucial to assess changes in neurological status and to guide further intervention.
• Elevate the head of the bed.
• Anticipated: Elevating the head of the bed can help with cerebral perfusion and decrease intracranial pressure. This is a common intervention for clients with neurological issues to improve comfort and safety.
• Keep the client's head in midline position.
• Anticipated: Maintaining a midline position helps ensure optimal cerebral perfusion and reduces the risk of complications. It is particularly important in clients with neurological changes.
• Encourage the client to cough.
• Non-essential: Given the client's current level of consciousness and agitation, encouraging coughing might not be appropriate and could cause further distress or complications.
• Decrease oxygen to 1.5L/min via nasal cannula.
• Contraindicated: The client’s oxygen saturation has dropped to 90% despite receiving 6 L/min of oxygen. Decreasing the oxygen flow could further impair oxygenation. The priority is to maintain or increase oxygen levels to ensure adequate oxygenation.