The nurse is preparing to receive a postoperative client who just had a tracheostomy. Which action by the nurse takes priority?
a. Obtain report from the postanesthesia care unit.
b. Place a second tracheostomy tube and obturator at the bedside.
c. Review orders for postoperative pain medications.
d. Order supplies for tracheostomy care for 24 hours.
B
The nurse must ensure that a second tracheostomy tube with obturator is available at the bedside in case of accidental decannulation, because tube dislodgment in the first 72 hours is an emergency. Obtaining report and understanding pain medication orders are important for any postoperative client, but for the tracheostomy client, having the extra material on hand is critical. Obtaining supplies for tracheostomy care is not as high a priority as the other three.
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