The nurse performing discharge planning with a patient who has undergone a total mastectomy and axillary dissection instructs the patient that she should report which of the following signs or symptoms to the physician immediately?
A) Tightness and tingling across the chest wall
B) Temperature of 98.5° F
C) Gross swelling and a large amount of output from the drainage device
D) Swelling in the arm on the side of the mastectomy
Ans: C
Feedback: The patient should report gross swelling and a large amount of output from the drainage device, which could indicate a hematoma. The patient may experience tightness and tingling across the chest wall and swelling in the arm on the side of the mastectomy. A temperature of 100.4° F or greater should also be reported to rule out postoperative infection.
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