Appendicitis NCLEX, Postoperative Care, NCLEX pre op/post op

A nurse is making a home health visit and finds the client experiencing right lower quadrant abdominal pain, which has decreased in intensity over the last day. The client also has a rigid abdomen and a temperature of 103.6 F. The nurse should intervene by: a) administer Tylenol (acetaminophen) for the elevated temperature b) advising the client to increase oral fluids c) asking the client when she last had a bowel movement d) notifying the physician

Correct D D. The client symptoms indicate appendicitis which requires immediate attention

Which of the following would indicate that Bobby's appendix has ruptured? " a) diaphoresis b) anorexia c) pain at Mc Burney's point d) relief from pain

Correct D all are normal signs of having appendicits and once you have relief from pain means you could have a rupture.

"The nurse is caring for a patient following an appendectomy. The patient takes a deep breath, coughs, and then winces in pain. Which of the following statements, if made by the nurse to the patient, is BEST? "A.) "Take three deep breaths, hold your incision, and then cough." B.) "That was good. Do that again and soon it won't hurt as much." C.) "It won't hurt as much if you hold your incision when you cough." D.) "Take another deep breath, hold it, and then cough deeply."

"(1) correct-most effective way of deep breathing and coughing, dilates airway and expands lung surface area (2) should splint incision before coughing to reduce discomfort and increase efficiency (3) partial answer, should take three deep breaths before coughing (4) implies coughing routine is adequate, incision needs to be splinted"

The nurse would increase the comfort of the patient with appendicitis by: "a. Having the patient lie prone b. Flexing the patient's right knee c. Sitting the patient upright in a chair d. Turning the patient onto his or her left side

Correct answer: B" The patient with appendicitis usually prefers to lie still, often with the right leg flexed to decrease pain.

To prevent airway obstruction in the postoperative patient who is unconscious or semiconscious, the nurse A. encourages deep breathing. B. elevates the head of the bed. C. administers oxygen per mask. D. positions the patient in a side-lying position.

D. positions the patient in a side-lying position. An unconscious or semiconscious patient should be placed in a lateral position to protect the airway from obstruction by the tongue. Deep breathing and elevation of the head of the bed are implemented to facilitate gas exchange when the patient is responsive. Oxygen administration is often used, but the patient must first have a patent airway.

"The client diagnosed with appendicitis has undergone an appendectomy. At two hours postoperative, the nurse takes the vital signs and notes T 102.6 F, P 132, R 26, and BP 92/46. Which interventions should the nurse implement? List in order of priority. 1. Increase the IV rate. 2. Notify the health care provider. 3. Elevate the foot of the bed. 4. Check the abdominal dressing. 5. Determine if the IV antibiotics have been administered.

Order of priority: 1, 3, 4, 5, 2." "1. The nurse should increase the IV rate to maintain the circulatory system function until further orders can be obtained. 3. The foot of the bed should be elevated to help treat shock, the symptoms of which include elevated pulse and decreased BP. Those signs and an elevated temperature indicate an infection may be present and the client could be developing septicemia. 4. The dressing should be assessed to determine if bleeding is occurring. 5. The nurse should administer any IV antibiotics ordered after addressing hypovolemia. The nurse will need this information when reporting to the HCP. 2. The HCP should be notified when the nurse has the needed information."

Patients may experience which problem 24-48 hrs post-op as a result of anesthetics? A. colitis B. Stomatitis C. Paralytic ileus D. Gastrocolic reflux

C. After surgery, pts are clients are at risk for paralytic ileus as a result of anesthesia.

Which of the following complications is thought to be the most common cause of appendicitis? a. A fecalith b. Internal bowel occlusion c. Bowel kinking d. Abdominal wall swelling"

Answer: A. A fecalith Rationale: A fecalith is a hard piece of stool which is stone like that commonly obstructs the lumen. Due to obstruction, inflammation and bacterial invasion can occur. Tumors or foreign bodies may also cause obstruction."

Unless contraindicated by the surgical procedure, which position is preferred for the unconscious patient immediately postoperative? A) Supine B) Lateral C) Semi-Fowler's D) High-Fowler's

Answer: B Unless contraindicated by the surgical procedure, the unconscious patient is positioned in a lateral "recovery" position. This recovery position keeps the airway open and reduces the risk of aspiration if the patient vomits. Once conscious, the patient is usually returned to a supine position with the head of the bed elevated.

A client has surgery for a perforated appendix with localized peritonis. In which position should the nurse place the client? A) Sims position B) trendelenburg C) semi-fowlers D)dorsal recumbant

C. Semi-fowlers aids in drainage and prevents spread of infection throughout the abodominal cavity.

In the absence of postoperative vomiting, GI suctioning, and wound drainage, the physiologic responses to the stress of surgery are most likely to cause A. diuresis. B. hyperkalemia. C. fluid overload. D. impaired blood coagulation.

C. fluid overload. Secretion and release of aldosterone and cortisol from the adrenal gland and ADH from the posterior pituitary as a result of the stress response cause fluid retention during the first 2 to 5 days postoperatively, and fluid overload is possible during this time. Aldosterone causes renal potassium loss with possible hypokalemia, and blood coagulation is enhanced by cortisol.

"A client has an appendectomy and develops peritonitis. The nurse should asses the client for an elevated temperature and which additional clinical indication commonly associated with peritonitis? "1. hyperactivity 2. extreme hunger 3. urinary retention 4. local muscular rigidity

Correct: 4 muscular rigidity over the affected area is a classic sign of peritonitis

A client is admitted with right lower quadrant pain, anorexia, nausea, low-grade fever, and elevated white blood cell count. Which complication is most likely the cause? 1. A. fecalith 2. Bowel Kinking 3. Internal blowel occlusion 4. Abdominal wall swelling

"Answer 1 Rational: The client is experiencing appendicitis. A. fecalith is a fecal calculus, or stone, that occludes the lumen of the appendix and is the most common cause of appendicitis. Bowel wall swelling, kinking of the appendix, and external occlusion not internal occlusion, of the bowel by adhesions can also be cause of appendicitis."

Which of the following nursing interventions should receive highest priority when a patient is admitted to the postanesthesia care unit? A. Positioning the patient B. Observing the operative site C. Checking the postoperative orders D. Receiving report from operating room personnel.

A. Positioning the patient. A patient is received in the postanesthesia care unit on a bed or stretcher. Proper positioning is necessary to ensure airway patency in a sedated, unconscious, or semiconscious patient. Observation of the operative site, receiving report from operating room personnel, and checking postoperative orders are interventions made after proper positioning of the patient.

"The nurse is caring for a patient in the emergency department with complaints of acute abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting. When the nurse palpates the patient's left lower abdominal quadrant, the patient complains of pain in the right lower quadrant. The nurse will document this as which of the following diagnostic signs of appendicitis? "a. Rovsing sign b. referred pain c. Chvostek's sign d. rebound tenderness correct answer: A"

Answer A In patients with suspected appendicitis, Rovsing sign may be elicited by palpation of the left lower quadrant, causing pain to be felt in the right lower quadrant.

Bobby, a 13 year old is being seen in the emergency room for possible appendicitis. An important nursing action to perform when preparing Bobby for an appendectomy is to:""a) administer saline enemas to cleanse the bowels b) apply heat to reduce pain c) measure abdominal girth d) continuously monitor pain

Answer: D Rationale: Pain is closely monitored in appendicitis. In most cases, pain medication is not given until prior to surgery or until the diagnosis is confirmed to be able to closely monitor the progression of the disease. A sudden change in the character of pain may indicate rupture or bowel perforation. Administering an enema or applying heat may cause perforation and abdominal girth may not change with appendicitis.

The PACU has received a semiconscious patient from the operating room and reviews the chart for orders related to positioning of the patient. There are no specific orders on the chart related to specific orders for the patient's position. In this situation, in what position will the nurse place the patient? A. Trendelenburg position B. Prone position C. Side-lying position D. Supine position

C) If the patient is not fully conscious, place the patient in the side-lying position, unless there is an ordered position on the patient's chart.

an 18 yr old is admitted with an acute onset of right lower quadrant pain. Appendicitis is suspected. For which clinical indicator should the nurse assess the client to determine if the pain is secondary to appendicitis A) urinary retention B) gastric hyperacidity C) rebound tenderness D) increased lower bowel motility

C) rebound tenderness is a classic subjective sign of appendicitis

The client with sever abdominal pain is being evaluated for appendicitis. What is the most common cause of appendicistis? http://nursing.slcc.edu/nclexrn3500/ 1. Rupture of the appendix 2.Obstruction of the appendix 3 A high-fat diet 4. A duodenal ulcer

Correct 2 Appendicitis most commonly results from obstruction of the appendix, which may lead to rupture. A high-fat diet or duodenal ulcer doesn't cause appendicitis; however, a client may require dietary restrictions after an appendectomy

Which of the following would confirm a diagnosis of appendicitis? "a. The pain is localized at a position halfway between the umbilicus and the right iliac crest. b. Mr. Liu describes the pain as occurring 2 hours after eating c. The pain subsides after eating d. The pain is in the left lower quadrant"

Correct A "Pain over McBurney's point, the point halfway between the umbilicus and the iliac crest, is diagnosis for appendicitis. Options b and c are common with ulcers; option d may suggest ulcerative"

"A client is admitted with a diagnosis of acute appendicitis. When assessing the abdomen, the nurse would expect to find rebound tenderness at which location? a) Left lower quadrant b) Left upper quadrant c) Right upper quadrant d) Right lower quadrant

Correct answer: d) Right lower quadrant" Rationale: The pain of acute appendicitis localizes in the right lower quadrant (RLQ) at McBurney's point, an area midway between the umbilicus and the right iliac crest. Often, the pain is worse when manual pressure near the region is suddenly released, a condition called rebound tenderness.

The nurse is admitting a client with the diagnosis of appendicitis to the surgical unit. Which question is essential to ask? A."When did you last eat?" B."Have you had surgery before?" C."Have you ever had this type of pain before?" D."What do you usually take to relieve your pain?"

answer A. When a person is admitted with possible appendicitis, the nurse should anticipate surgery. It will be important to know when she last ate when considering the type of anesthesia so that the chance of aspiration can be minimized. The other inoformation is "nice to know", but not essential.

After admission of the postoperative patient to the clinical unit, which assessment data requires the most immediate attention? A) Oxygen saturation of 85% B) Respiratory rate of 13/minute C) Temperature of 100.4F (38 C) D) Blood pressure of 90/60

Answer: A During the initial assessment, identify signs of inadequate oxygenation and ventilation. Pulse oximetry monitoring is initiated because it provides a noninvasive means of assessing the adequacy of oxygenation. Pulse oximetry may indicate low oxygen saturation (<90% to 92%) with respiratory compromise. This necessitates prompt intervention.

The nurse is working on a surgical floor and is preparing to receive a postoperative patient from the postanesthesia care unit (PACU). What should the nurse's initial action be upon the patient's arrival? A) Assess the patient's pain. B) Assess the patient's vital signs. C) Check the rate of the IV infusion. D) Check the physician's postoperative orders

Answer: B The highest priority action by the nurse is to assess the physiologic stability of the patient. This is accomplished in part by taking the patient's vital signs. The other actions can then take place in rapid sequence.

The patient had abdominal surgery. The estimated blood loss was 400 mL. The patient received 300 mL of 0.9% saline during surgery. Postoperatively, the patient is hypotensive. What should the nurse anticipate for this patient? A) Blood administration B) Restoring circulating volume C) An ECG to check circulatory status D) Return to surgery to check for internal bleeding

Answer: B The nurse should anticipate restoring circulating volume with IV infusion. Although blood could be used to restore circulating volume, there are no manifestations in this patient indicating a need for blood administration. An ECG may be done if there is no response to the fluid administration, or there is a past history of cardiac disease, or cardiac problems were noted during surgery. Returning to surgery to check for internal bleeding would only be done if patient's level of consciousness changes or the abdomen becomes firm and distended.

When a patient is admitted to the PACU, what are the priority interventions the nurse performs? A) Asses the surgical site, noting presence and character of drainage B) Assess the amount of urine output and the presence of bladder distention C) Assess for airway patency and quality of respirations, and obtain vital signs D) Review results of intraoperative laboratory values and medications received.

Answer: C Assessment in the postanesthesia care unit (PACU) begins with evaluation of the airway, breathing, and circulation (ABC) status of the patient. Identification of inadequate oxygenation and ventilation or respiratory compromise necessitates prompt intervention.

In caring for the postoperative patient on the clinical unit after transfer from the PACU, which care can be delegated to the unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP)? A) Monitor the patient's pain. B) Do the admission vital signs. C) Assist the patient to take deep breaths and cough. D) Change the dressing when there is excess drainage.

Answer: C The UAP can encourage and assist the patient to do deep breathing and coughing exercises and report complaints of pain to the nurse caring for the patient. The RN should do the admission vital signs for the patient transferring to the clinical unit from the PACU. The LPN or RN will monitor and treat the patient's pain and change the dressings.

A client with complaints of right lower quadrant pain is admitted to the emergency department. Blood specimens are drawn and sent to the laboratory. Which laboratory finding should be reported to the physician immediately? "a) Hematocrit 42% b) Serum potassium 4.2 mEq/L c) Serum sodium 135 mEq/L d) White blood cell (WBC) count 22.8/mm3.

Answer: D "D) White blood cell (WBC) count 22.8/mm3 The nurse should report the elevated WBC count. This finding, which is a sign of infection, indicates that the client's appendix might have ruptured. Hematocrit of 42%, serum potassium of 4.2 mEq/L, and serum sodium of 135 mEq/L are within normal limits. Alterations in these levels don't indicate appendicitis."

"The nurse is admitting a client with acute appendicitis to the emergency department. The client has abdominal pain of 10 on a pain scale of 1 to 10. The client will be going to surgery as soon as possible. The nurse should: "1. Contact the surgeon to request an order for a narcotic for the pain. 2. Maintain the client in a recumbent position. 3. Place the client on nothing-by-mouth (NPO) status. 4. Apply heat to the abdomen in the area of the pain."

Correct: 3 - no rationale

Select all that apply. Which of the following best describes a consent form? A. May be signed by an emancipated minor. B. Protects the health care facility but not the physician C. Signifies that the patient understands all aspects of the procedure. D. Signifies that the patient and family have been told about the procedure E. Must be signed by the patient or responsible party at the health care facility, and that consent may not be obtained by phone or fax

A. May be signed by an emancipated minor. (&) C. Signifies that the patient understands all aspects of the procedure. A consent form may be signed by an emancipated minor, and consent may be obtained by fax or phone with appropriate witnesses. Only in the cases of underage children or unconscious or mentally incompetent people must a family member be aware of the procedure. The document protects the surgeon and the health care facility in that it indicates that the patient knows and understands all aspects of the procedure.

"A nurse is caring for a client admitted to the hospital with a suspected diagnosis of acute appendicitis. Which of the following laboratory results would the nurse expect to note if the client does have appendicitis? 1. Leukopenia with a shift to the right 2. Leukocytosis with a shift to the right 3.Leukocytosis with a shift to the left 4. Leukopenia with a shift to the left"

Answer 2 - no rationale

A patient returning to the floor after orthopedic surgery is complaining of nausea. The nurse is aware that an appropriate intervention is to: A. Hold all medications. B. Avoid strong smelling foods. C. Avoid oral hygiene until the nausea subsides. D. Provide clear liquids with a straw.

B)Nursing care for a patient with nausea includes avoiding strong smelling foods. Providing oral hygiene, administering prescribed medications (especially if medications ordered are anti-nausea/antiemetics), and avoid the use of a straw.

While a nurse is caring for a patient who is scheduled to have surgery in 2 hours, the patient states, "My doctor was here and told me a lot of stuff I didn't understand and then I signed a paper for her." To fulfill the role of advocate, what is the best nursing action? A. Reassure the patient that the surgery will go as planned. B. Explain the surgery and possible outcomes to the patient. C. Complete her first priority, the preoperative teaching plan. D. Call the physician to return and clarify information for the patient.

D. Call the physician to return and clarify information for the patient. Examples of nursing advocacy include questioning doctors' orders, promoting patient comfort, and supporting patient decisions regarding health care choices.

Which of the nursing interventions should be implemented to manage appendicitis? a. Assess pain b. encourage oral intake of clear fluids. c. provide discharge teaching D. assess for symptoms of peritonitis.

answer D. Monitor for peritonitis because if the appendix ruptures, bacteria can enter the peritoneum. Pain will be managed with analgesics, and pt should be NPO for surgery. Discharge is not done at this time

What are some common Nursing Interventions to reduce risk/avoid post-op complications?

1. Turn & reposition the pt to promote circulation and reduce the risk of skin breakdown, especially over boney prominences. Initially position pt in a Lateral recumbant position until arousal from anesthesia, then position pt in Semi or Fowler position to reduce breathing effort. 2. Encourage coughing & deep breathing. This helps clear anestetics from the body, lowers risk of pulmonary/fat emboli, and hypostatic pneumonia associated with secretion buildup in the airways. 3. Encourage use of Incentive Spirometer. 4. Monitor In's and Out's. Hydration and protein rich nutrition promotes healing and provides energy to meet the needs of the pts increased metabolism associated with surgery. 5. Promote early ambulation. Early post-op exercise and ambulation significantly reduce the risk of thromboembolism.

The nurse is preparing to send a patient to the operating room for an exploratory laparoscopy. The nurse recognizes that there is no informed consent for the procedure on the patient's chart. The nurse informs the physician who is performing the procedure. The physician asks the nurse to obtain the informed consent signature from the patient. The nurse's best action to the physician's request is to: A. Inform the physician that is his responsibility to obtain the signature. B. Obtain the signature and ask another nurse to co-sign the signature. C. Inform the physician that the nurse manager will need to obtain the signature.

A) The responsibility for securing informed consent from the patient lies with the person who will perform the procedure. The nurse's best action is to inform the physician that it is his responsibility to obtain the signature.

The reason pts are sent to a PACU after surgery is: A. to be monitored while recovering from anesthesia. B. to remain near the surgeon immediately after surgery. C. to allow the medical-surgical unit time to prepare for transfer. D. to provide time for the pt to cope with the effects of surgery.

A. Pts are sent to a PACU to be monitored while they're recovering from anesthesia.

Select all that apply. A nurse is caring for a surgical patient in the preoperative area. The nurse obtains the patient's informed consent for the surgical procedure. Which statements are true regarding informed consent? A. Informed consent must be signed while the patient is free from mind-altering medications. B. Informed consent must be witnessed. C. Informed consent may be withdrawn at any time. D. Informed consent must be signed by patients age 16 and older. E. Informed consent must be obtained by the physician. F. Informed consent must be obtained from the family even in a life-threatening emergency.

A. Informed consent must be signed while the patient is free from mind-altering medications. B. Informed consent must be witnessed. An informed consent must be signed while the patient is free from mind-altering medications and must be witnessed after it has been determined that the patient has received all of the necessary information needed to make an informed decision. An informed consent may be withdrawn at any time before the procedure and must be signed by patients age 18 and older. A parent or guardian's signature is required for minors. The informed consent may be obtained by the physician or the nurse and is not required in the event of a life-threatening emergency.

The doctor ordered for a complete blood count. After the test, Nurse Ray received the result from the laboratory. Which laboratory values will confirm the diagnosis of appendicitis? a. RBC 5.5 x 106/mm3 b. Hct 44 % c. WBC 13, 000/mm3 d. Hgb 15 g/dL"

Answer C "Rationale: Increase in WBC counts is suggestive of appendicitis because of bacterial invasion and inflammation. Normal WBC count is 5, 000 - 10, 000/mm3. Other options are normal values."

What would be the most effective way for a nurse to validate "informed consent"? A. Ask the family whether the patient understands the procedure. B. Check the chart for a completed and signed consent form. C. Ask the patient what he or she understands regarding the procedure. D. Determine from the physician what was discussed with the patient.

C. Ask the patient what he or she understands regarding the procedure. Informed consent in the health care setting is a process whereby a patient is informed of the risks, benefits, and alternatives of a certain procedure, and then gives consent for it to be done. The piece of paper is simply evidence that the informed consent process has been done.

The nurse is monitoring a client diagnosed with appendicitis who is scheduled for surgery in 2 hours. The client begins to complain of increased abdominal pain and begns to vomit. On assessment, the nurse notes that the abdomen is distended and bowel sounds are diminished. Which is the appropriate nursing intervention? "1. Notify the Physician 2. Administer the prescribed pain medication 3. Call and ask the operating room team to perform the surgery as soon as possible 4. Reposition the client and apply a heating pad on warm setting to the client's abdomen

CORRECT ANSWER: 1" "1. Based on the assessment information the nurse should suspect peritonitis, a complication that is associated with appendicitis, and notify the physician. 2. Administering pain medication is not an appropriate intervention 3. Scheduling surgical time is not within the scope of practice of an RN. 4. Heat should never be applied to the abdomen of a patient suspected of having peritonitis because of the risk of rupture."

"When evaluating a male client for complications of acute pancreatitis, the nurse would observe for: "a. increased intracranial pressure. b. decreased urine output. c. bradycardia. d. hypertension."

Correct Answer: B Rationale: Acute pancreatitis can cause decreased urine output, which results from the renal failure that sometimes accompanies this condition. Intracranial pressure neither increases nor decreases in a client with pancreatitis. Tachycardia, not bradycardia, usually is associated with pulmonary or hypovolemic complications of pancreatitis. Hypotension can be caused by a hypovolemic complication, but hypertension usually isn't related to acute pancreatitis."

In the operating room, a patient tells a circulating nurse that he is going to have the cataract in his left eye removed. If the nurse notes that the consent form indicates that surgery is to be performed on the right eye, what should be the nurse's first action? A. Ask the patient his name. B. Notify the surgeon and anesthesiologist. C. Check to see whether the patient has received any preoperative medications. D. Assume that the patient is a little confused because he is older and has received midazolam intramuscularly.

A. Ask the patient his name. Ensuring proper identification of a patient is a responsibility of all members of the surgical team. In a specialty surgical setting where many patients undergo the same type of surgery each day, such as cataract removal, it is possible that the patient and the record do not match. Nurses do not assume in the care of their patients. The priority is with the nurse identifying the patient and the patient's consent form before the physicians are notified.

which statement made by the client who is postoperative abdominal surgery indicates the discharge teaching has been effective? 1. "i will take my temp each week and report any elevation." 2. "i will not need any pain meds when i go home." 3. i will take all of my antibiotics until they are gone." 4. i will not take a shower until my three month check up.

Correct 3 1. the client should check the temp twice a day. 2. it is not realistic to expect the client to experience no pain after surgery. 3 (CORRECT): this statement about taking all the antibiotics ordered indicates the teaching is effective. 4. clients may shower after surgery, but not taking a tub bath for three months after surgery is too long a time.

A client complains of severe pain in the right lower quadrant of the abdomen. To assist with pain relief, the nurse should take which of the following actions? "1. Encourage the client to change positions frequently in bed 2. Massage the right lower quadrant fo the abdomen 3. Apply warmth to the abdomen with a heating pad 4. Use comfort measures and pillows to position the client"

Correct 4 "1. ""Encourage the client..."" - unnecesary movement will increase pain and should be avoided 2. ""Massage the lower..."" - if appendicitis is suspected, massorge or palpation should never be performed as thes actions may cause the appendix to rupture 3. ""Apply warmth..."" - if pain is casused by appendicitis, increased circulation from the heat may cause appendix to rupture 4. ""Use comfort measures..."" - CORRECT: non-pharmacological methods of pain relief"

Which client requires immediate nursing intervention? "The client who: a) complains of epigastric pain after eating. b) complains of anorexia and periumbilical pain. c) presents with ribbonlike stools. d) presents with a rigid, boardlike abdomen.

Correct: D A rigid, boardlike abdomen is a sign of peritonitis, a possibly life-threatening condition. Epigastric pain occurring 90 minutes to 3 hours after eating indicates a duodenal ulcer. Anorexia and periumbilical pain are characteristic of appendicitis. Risk of rupture is minimal within the first 24 hours, but increases significantly after 48 hours. A client with a large-bowel obstruction may have ribbonlike stools.

"When preparing a male client, age 51, for surgery to treat appendicitis, the nurse formulates a nursing diagnosis of Risk for infection related to inflammation, perforation, and surgery. What is the rationale for choosing this nursing diagnosis? "a. Obstruction of the appendix may increase venous drainage and cause the appendix to rupture. b. Obstruction of the appendix reduces arterial flow, leading to ischemia, inflammation, and rupture of the appendix. c. The appendix may develop gangrene and rupture, especially in a middle-aged client. d. Infection of the appendix diminishes necrotic arterial blood flow and increases venous drainage."

Answer B. A client with appendicitis is at risk for infection related to inflammation, perforation, and surgery because obstruction of the appendix causes mucus fluid to build up, increasing pressure in the appendix and compressing venous outflow drainage. The pressure continues to rise with venous obstruction; arterial blood flow then decreases, leading to ischemia from lack of perfusion. Inflammation and bacterial growth follow, and swelling continues to raise pressure within the appendix, resulting in gangrene and rupture. Geriatric, not middle-aged, clients are especially susceptible to appendix rupture.

A nurse is caring for a child who had a laproscopic appendectomy. What interventions should the nurse document on the child's clinical record? Select all that apply. 1) Intake and Output 2) Measurement of Pain 3) Tolerance to low-residue diet 4) Frequency of dressing changes 5) Auscultation of bowel sounds

Answer: 1, 2, 5 1) Assessment and documentation of fluid balance are critical aspects of all postoperative care. 2) Laparoscopic surgery involves insufflating the abdominal cavity with air, which is painful until it is absorbed. The amount of pain should be measured and documented with either a 1-10 scale or the Wong's FACES for younger children. 3) A special diet is not indicated after this surgery. 4) After a laparoscopic appendectomy there is little drainage and no dressings. 5) Auscultating for bowel sounds and documenting their presennce or absence evaluate the child's adaptation to the intestinal trauma caused by the surgery.

The nurse is assessing an adolescent who is admitted to the hospital with appendicitis. The nurse should report which of the following to the HCP? "1) change in pain rating of 7 to 8 on a 10 point scale. 2) sudden relief of sharp pain, shifting to diffuse pain. 3)shallow breathing with normal vital signs. 4) decrease of pain rating from 8 to 6 when parents visit.

Answer: 2 Rationale: The nurse notifies the HCP if the client has sudden relief of sharp pain and on presence of more diffuse pain. this change in the pain indicates the appendix has ruprured. The diffuse pain is typically accompanied by rigid guarding of the abdomen, progressive abdominal distension, tachycardia, pallor, chills, and irritability. The slight increase pain can be expected; the decrease in pain when parents visit may be attributed to being distracted from the pain. shallow breathing is likely due to the pain and is insignificant when other vital signs are normal

A school-aged child has an emergency appendectomy. The nurse should report which of the following to the HCP if notes in the immediate postoperative period. 1. abdominal pain, 2. tugging at the incision line, 3. thirst, 4 a rigid abdomen

Answer: 4 Rationale: A tense, rigid abdomen is an early symptom of peritonitis. The other findings are expected in the immediate postoperative period.

In planning postoperative interventions to promote repositioning, ambulation, coughing, and deep breathing, which action should the nurse recognize will best enable the patient to achieve the desired outcomes? A) Administering adequate analgesics to promote relief or control of pain. B) Asking the patient to demonstrate the postoperative exercises every 1 hour C) Giving the patient positive feedback when the activities are performed correctly D) Warning the patient about possible complications if the activities are not performed

Answer: A Even when a patient understands the importance of postoperative activities and demonstrates them correctly, it is unlikely that the best outcome will occur unless the patient has sufficient pain relief to cooperate with the activities.

The nurse is caring for a 54-year-old unconscious female patient who has just been admitted to the postanesthesia care unit after abdominal hysterectomy. How should the nurse position the patient? A) Left lateral position with head supported on a pillow B) Prone position with a pillow supporting the abdomen C) Supine position with head of bed elevated 30 degrees D) Semi-Fowler's position with the head turned to the right

Answer: A The unconscious patient should be placed in the lateral "recovery" position to keep the airway open and reduce the risk of aspiration. Once conscious, the patient is usually returned to a supine position with the head of the bed elevated to maximize expansion of the thorax by decreasing the pressure of the abdominal contents on the diaphragm.

A patient is admitted to the PACU after major abdominal surgery. During the initial assessment the patient tells the nurse he thinks he is going to "throw up." A priority nursing intervention would be to: A) increase the rate of the IV fluids. B) obtain vital signs including O2 saturation. C) position patient in lateral recovery position. D) administer antiemetic medication as ordered.

Answer: C If the patient is nauseated and may vomit, place the patient in a lateral recovery position to keep the airway open and reduce the risk of aspiration if vomiting occurs.

When assessing a patient's surgical dressing on the first postoperative day, the nurse notes new, bright-red drainage about 5 cm in diameter. In response to this finding, what should the nurse do first? A) Recheck in 1 hour for increased drainage. B) Notify the surgeon of a potential hemorrhage. C) Assess the patient's blood pressure and heart rate. D) Remove the dressing and assess the surgical incision.

Answer: C The first action by the nurse is to gather additional assessment data to form a more complete clinical picture. The nurse can then report all of the findings. Continued reassessment will be done. Agency policy determines whether the nurse may change the dressing for the first time or simply reinforce it.

A 67-year-old male patient is admitted to the postanesthesia care unit (PACU) after abdominal surgery. Which assessment, if made by the nurse, is the best indicator of respiratory depression? A) Increased respiratory rate B) Decreased oxygen saturation C) Increased carbon dioxide pressure D) Frequent premature ventricular contractions (PVCs)

Answer: C Transcutaneous carbon dioxide pressure (PtcCO2) monitoring is a sensitive indicator of respiratory depression. Increased CO2 pressures would indicate respiratory depression. Clinical manifestations of inadequate oxygenation include increased respiratory rate, dysrhythmias (e.g., premature ventricular contractions), and decreased oxygen saturation.

A 70kg postoperative patient has an average urine output of 25mL/hr during the first 8 hours. The priority nursing intervention(s) given this assessment would be to: A) perform a straight catheterization to measure the amount of urine in the bladder. B) notify the physician and anticipate obtaining blood work to evaluate renal function. C) continue to monitor the patient because this is a normal finding during this time period. D) evaluate the patient's fluid volume status since surgery and obtain a bladder ultrasound.

Answer: D Because of the possibility of infection associated with catheterization, the nurse should first try to validate that the bladder is full. The nurse should consider fluid intake during and after surgery and should determine bladder fullness by percussion, by palpation, or by a portable bladder ultrasound study to assess the volume of urine in the bladder and avoid unnecessary catheterization.

"A client with acute appendicitis develops a fever, tachycardia, and hypotension. Based on these assessment findings, the nurse should further assess the client for which of the following complications?... "1. Deficient fluid volume. 2. Intestinal obstruction. 3. Bowel ischemia. 4. Peritonitis

Correct 4 "Complications of acute appendicitis are perforation, peritonitis, and abscess development. Signs of the development of peritonitis include abdominal pain and distention, tachycardia, tachypnea, nausea, vomiting, and fever. Because peritonitis can cause hypovolemic shock, hypotension can develop. Deficient fluid volume would not cause a fever. Intestinal obstruction would cause abdominal distention, diminished or absent bowel sounds, and abdominal pain. Bowel ischemia has signs and symptoms similar to those found with intestinal obstruction."

Which of the following position should the client with appendicitis assume to relieve pain ? A. Prone B. Sitting C. Supine D. Lying with legs drawn up

Correct Answer: D Lying still with legs drawn up towards chest helps relive tension on the abdominal muscle, which helps to reduce the amount of discomfort felt. Lying flat or sitting may increase the amount of pain experienced

"During the assessment of a patient with acute abdominal pain, the nurse should: a. perform deep palpation before auscultation b. obtain blood pressure and pulse rate to determine hypervolemic changes c. auscultate bowel sounds because hyperactive bowel sounds suggest paralytic ileus d. measure body temperature because an elevated temperature may indicate an inflammatory or infectious process.

Correct D Rationale: for the patient complaining of acute abdominal pain, nurse should take vital signs immediately. Increased pulse and decreasing blood pressure are indicative of hypovolemia. An elevated temperature suggests an inflammatory infectious process. Intake and output measurements provide essential information about the adequate of vascular volume. Inspect abdomen first and then auscultate bowel sounds. Palpation is performed next and should be gentle.