A nurse is caring for a 38-year-old patient in the postanesthesia care unit (PACU) following abdominal surgery; as the patient begins to awaken he is restless and asking for "a drink of water."
The nurse checks his skin and finds it is cold, moist, and pale. The nurse is concerned the patient may be at risk for:
A) Hemorrhage and shock
B) Loss of airway and hypotension
C) Pain and anxiety
D) Hypertension and dysrhythmias
Ans: A
Feedback: Hemorrhage is a complication of surgery that can result in death; when blood loss is extreme, the patient usually presents as apprehensive, restless, and thirsty. The skin is cold, moist, and pale. Option B is incorrect; the patient is asking for "a drink of water" so loss of airway is unlikely and no evidence is provided in the question that it is related to hypotension such as blood pressure. Options C and D are incorrect; there is no evidence based on the information provided in the question that the patient is in pain or having anxiety, hypertension, or dysrhythmias.
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