Which situations are early signs of an ethical dilemma? (Select all that apply)

Choice A reason: Malodorous flatus 2 days post-colostomy is normal, indicating bowel function resumption. This aligns with postoperative colostomy expectations, making it the correct interpretation by the nurse, as flatus is an expected milestone in the client’s recovery process.

Choice B reason: Ischemic bowel causes pain, fever, or absent output, not just malodorous flatus, which is normal post-colostomy. This is incorrect, as it misinterprets a typical finding as a serious complication in the nurse’s assessment of the client’s stoma.

Choice C reason: Flatus doesn’t indicate the need for a nasogastric tube, which is used for obstruction or ileus. Normal flatus is expected, making this incorrect, as it wrongly suggests intervention for a typical post-colostomy finding in the nurse’s evaluation.

Choice D reason: Malodorous flatus is unrelated to preoperative bowel preparation; it’s a normal post-colostomy event. This is incorrect, as it misattributes a standard recovery sign to surgical preparation, unlike the nurse’s correct interpretation of expected bowel function.

Choice A reason: Bilateral pedal pulses at 88 beats/min indicate restored circulation post-fasciotomy, preventing compartment syndrome. This aligns with vascular assessment post-burn and fracture, making it a correct finding showing the nurse’s actions were effective in maintaining perfusion in the leg.

Choice B reason: No swelling in lower extremities post-fasciotomy indicates reduced pressure and effective decompression, preventing tissue damage. This aligns with post-surgical burn care, making it a correct finding demonstrating the nurse’s actions were successful in managing the client’s leg injury.

Choice C reason: Spontaneous respirations are expected with intubation but unrelated to fasciotomy effectiveness for leg burn and fracture. Pulse presence is more relevant, making this incorrect, as it does not reflect the outcome of the nurse’s actions on the leg injury.

Choice D reason: Pulse oximetry of 93% reflects respiratory status, not fasciotomy effectiveness for leg perfusion. No swelling is a direct outcome, making this incorrect, as it’s unrelated to the nurse’s actions addressing the burn and fracture in the client’s leg.

Choice E reason: Pain reduced to 5/10 from 10 post-fasciotomy indicates effective decompression and pain management. This aligns with post-surgical burn care outcomes, making it a correct finding showing the nurse’s actions improved the client’s comfort and leg injury status.

Choice F reason: Normal temperature of 98.6°F is expected but doesn’t directly indicate fasciotomy effectiveness for leg perfusion. Pedal pulses are more specific, making this incorrect, as it’s not a primary outcome of the nurse’s actions for the client’s leg injury.