Chapter 19: Postoperative Nursing Management

A post op client reports severe abdominal pain. The nurse cannot auscultate bowel sounds and notes the client's abdomen is rigid. What is the nurse's priority action?

Call the health care provider

The nurse is responsible for monitoring cardiovascular function in a postoperative patient. What method can the nurse use to measure cardiovascular function?

Central venous pressure

A client with nausea and vomiting is to receive an antiemetic that inhibits the vomiting center in the brain. Which of the following would the nurse expect the physician to order most likely?

Prochlorperazine (Compazine)

When vomiting occurs postoperatively, what is the most important nursing intervention?

Turn the patient's head completely to one side to prevent aspiration of vomitus into the lungs

The primary objective in the immediate postoperative period is

maintaining pulmonary ventilation