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.