what is the most important assessment for a patient post surgery

ATI RN

ATI RN Exit Exam Quizlet

1. What is the most important assessment for a patient post-surgery?

A. Monitor vital signs
B. Check surgical site for bleeding
C. Check for abnormal breath sounds
D. Check skin color

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is to monitor vital signs post-surgery. Vital signs provide crucial information about a patient's physiological status, helping detect early signs of complications such as shock, bleeding, or infection. Checking the surgical site for bleeding is important but falls secondary to monitoring vital signs, which give a broader overview of the patient's condition. Checking for abnormal breath sounds and skin color are also important assessments, but they are not as immediate and general as monitoring vital signs in detecting various post-surgical complications.

2. A client expresses fear of surgery. Which response should the nurse make?

A. Explain the risks of the surgery in detail.
B. Tell the client that many clients feel anxious before surgery.
C. Reassure the client that the surgical team is highly experienced.
D. Acknowledge the client's feelings and ask open-ended questions.

Correct answer: D

Rationale: When a client expresses fear of surgery, it is essential for the nurse to acknowledge their feelings and ask open-ended questions. This response shows empathy, validates the client's emotions, and encourages them to express their concerns further. Explaining the risks of the surgery in detail (Choice A) may increase the client's anxiety. Simply stating that many clients feel anxious before surgery (Choice B) does not address the client's specific fears. While reassuring the client about the surgical team's experience (Choice C) is important, it may not directly alleviate the client's fear.

3. A client with liver cirrhosis is experiencing confusion. Which of the following laboratory values should the nurse report to the provider?

A. Bilirubin 0.8 mg/dL
B. Ammonia 145 mcg/dL
C. Albumin 4 g/dL
D. Hemoglobin 13.5 g/dL

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: Ammonia 145 mcg/dL. An elevated ammonia level can indicate hepatic encephalopathy in clients with liver cirrhosis, leading to confusion. Bilirubin (Choice A) is within the normal range, indicating adequate liver function. Albumin (Choice C) and Hemoglobin (Choice D) levels are also within normal limits and are not directly related to the client's confusion in this scenario.

4. A client at 10 weeks of gestation with a history of UTIs is receiving teaching from a nurse. Which of the following statements should the nurse include?

A. You should drink 240 ml (8 oz) of water before and after intercourse.
B. You should avoid drinking orange juice because it increases the risk of infection.
C. You should empty your bladder after intercourse to help prevent infection.
D. You should take a hot bath to help prevent infection.

Correct answer: C

Rationale: The correct statement the nurse should include is to advise the client to empty their bladder after intercourse to help prevent UTIs. Emptying the bladder after intercourse helps reduce the risk of UTIs by flushing bacteria from the urethra. Choice A is incorrect as drinking water before and after intercourse is not specifically related to preventing UTIs. Choice B is incorrect as there is no direct correlation between orange juice consumption and UTI risk. Choice D is incorrect as taking a hot bath can actually increase the risk of UTIs by promoting bacterial growth.

5. A client in active labor is being assessed by a nurse. Which of the following findings should the nurse report to the provider?

A. Contractions lasting 80 seconds.
B. FHR baseline of 170/min.
C. Early decelerations in the FHR.
D. Temperature of 37.4°C (99.3°F).

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B because a baseline FHR of 170/min indicates fetal tachycardia, which needs further evaluation. Choice A about contractions lasting 80 seconds is within the normal range for active labor. Choice C, early decelerations in the FHR, are generally considered benign and do not require immediate reporting. Choice D, a temperature of 37.4°C (99.3°F), falls within normal limits for a laboring client and does not warrant immediate reporting.