While Caring for a Patient with Abdominal Surgery the First

question 18

Multiple Choice

While caring for a patient with abdominal surgery the first postoperative day, the nurse notices new bright-red drainage about 6 cm in diameter on the dressing. In response to this finding, the nurse should first

• A) reinforce the dressing.
• B) take the patient's vital signs.
• C) recheck the dressing in 1 hour for increased drainage.
• D) notify the patient's surgeon of a potential hemorrhage.