a patient is experiencing pain after surgery what is the nurses priority action
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Nursing Elites

ATI RN

RN ATI Capstone Proctored Comprehensive Assessment A

1. After surgery, a patient is experiencing pain. What is the nurse's priority action?

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is to assess the patient's pain using a pain scale. This is the priority action because it allows the nurse to obtain an objective measure of the patient's pain intensity. By accurately assessing the pain level, the nurse can determine the appropriate intervention, which may include administering pain medication as prescribed (choice A) or offering non-pharmacological pain relief methods (choice C). Reassessing the patient's pain level after 30 minutes (choice D) is important but comes after the initial assessment to evaluate the effectiveness of the interventions implemented.

2. What is the nurse's priority intervention for a patient who has developed a pressure ulcer?

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is to reposition the patient every 2 hours. Repositioning helps prevent the worsening of pressure ulcers by relieving pressure on affected areas and promoting blood circulation, which aids in healing. Applying a dressing (choice A) is important but not the priority compared to repositioning. Providing pain medication (choice C) is essential for comfort but does not address the root cause of the pressure ulcer. Cleaning the ulcer with normal saline (choice D) is part of wound care but does not take precedence over repositioning to prevent further tissue damage.

3. What is the most appropriate method for assessing a patient's pain level?

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The most appropriate method for assessing a patient's pain level is to use a standardized pain scale, such as a 0-10 scale. This method provides an objective and consistent way to measure and communicate the intensity of pain experienced by the patient. Choice A, observing facial expressions, can be subjective and may not always accurately reflect the level of pain. Choice C, asking the patient to rate their pain based on their mood, may be influenced by various factors unrelated to pain. Choice D, involving the patient's family members in assessing the pain, is not ideal as pain is a subjective experience that should be reported by the patient themselves.

4. A patient requires repositioning every 2 hours. Which task can the nurse delegate to the nursing assistive personnel?

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: 'Changing the patient's position.' Repositioning the patient every 2 hours can be delegated to nursing assistive personnel as it involves physically moving the patient. Tasks like determining the level of comfort (choice A) and assessing circulation (choice D) are clinical judgments that require a nursing license and should be performed by the nurse. Similarly, identifying immobility hazards (choice C) involves critical thinking and assessment skills that are within the nurse's scope of practice.

5. A client has a prescription for a clear liquid diet. Which of the following foods should the nurse allow the client to have?

Correct answer: D

Rationale: Grape juice is the correct choice for a clear liquid diet because it is a liquid that is transparent and does not contain any solid particles. Lemon sherbet, milkshake, and vanilla ice cream are not appropriate for a clear liquid diet as they all contain solid particles or are not in liquid form.

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