Which patient finding indicates the need for further monitoring rather than discharge home after an outpatient surgical procedure?

A. Inability to void without fluid retention. Urinary retention is a common post-op complication, especially after anesthesia, and requires monitoring to prevent bladder distension or kidney issues.

B. Persistent nausea without vomiting. Nausea can be managed with antiemetics and does not necessarily require prolonged monitoring.

C. Lethargy that resolves after several hours. Post-anesthesia drowsiness is expected and does not necessarily indicate a need for extended observation.

D. Pain management with opioid analgesics. Pain control with opioids is expected and does not, by itself, require extended monitoring.

A. Ensure an NPO status is maintained for the length of the prescribed treatment: While some ventilated patients are NPO, others receive enteral feeding. NPO status alone does not prevent aspiration.

B. Perform chest physiotherapy as prescribed by the practitioner: Chest physiotherapy helps clear secretions but does not directly reduce aspiration risk.

C. Limit each suctioning event to no more than 10 seconds: While limiting suction time is important to avoid hypoxia, it does not directly prevent aspiration.

D. Elevate the head of the bed between 30 to 45 degrees: Keeping the head of the bed elevated reduces the risk of aspiration, partic