While Assessing a Patient Who Has Just Arrived in the Postanesthesia

question 18

Multiple Choice

While assessing a patient who has just arrived in the postanesthesia recovery unit (PACU) after a thyroidectomy, the nurse obtains these data. Which information is most important to communicate to the surgeon?

• A) The patient is sleepy and hard to arouse.
• B) The patient has increasing swelling of the neck.
• C) The patient is complaining of 7/10 incisional pain.
• D) The patient's cardiac monitor shows a heart rate of 112.

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Definitions:

Clean Technique

A method used in medical procedures to reduce the number of microorganisms and prevent infection, involving hand hygiene and the use of non-sterile gloves and equipment.

Foley Catheter

A flexible tube inserted into the bladder to drain urine, used in patients unable to void naturally.

Size French

A scale used to measure the outer diameter of catheters and other tubular instruments, with one French unit equivalent to one-third of a millimeter.

12-Year-Old Female

A demographic term referring to a human female who is twelve years of age.