The nurse explains the pain relief measures available after surgery during preoperative teaching for a surgical patient. Which of the following comments from the patient indicates the need for additional education on this topic?
a. "I will take the pain medication as the physician prescribes it."
b. "I will be asked to rate my pain on a pain scale."
c. "I will have minimal pain because of the anesthesia."
d. "I will take my pain medications before doing postoperative exercises."
C
Pain after surgery is expected and is one of the patient's fears. Anesthesia will be provided during the procedure itself, and the patient should not experience pain during the procedure. Pain management is utilized after the postoperative phase. Inform the patient of interventions available for pain relief, including medication, relaxation, and distraction. The patient needs to know and understand how to take the medications that the physician will prescribe postoperatively. During the stay in the facility, the level of pain is frequently assessed by the nurses. Coordinating pain medication with postoperative exercises helps to minimize discomfort and allows the exercises to be more effective.
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After teaching a client who has an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD), a nurse assesses the client's understanding. Which statement by the client indicates a correct understanding of the teaching?
a. "I should wear a snug-fitting shirt over the ICD." b. "I will avoid sources of strong electromagnetic fields." c. "I should participate in a strenuous exercise program." d. "Now I can discontinue my antidysrhythmic medication."
The nurse is caring for a patient with acute pericarditis. What nursing management should be instituted to minimize complications?
A) The nurse keeps the patient isolated to prevent nosocomial infections. B) The nurse encourages coughing and deep breathing. C) The nurse helps the patient with activities until the pain and fever subside. D) The nurse encourages increased fluid intake until the infection resolves.
An older adult patient has come to the clinic for a regular check-up. The nurse's initial inspection reveals an increased thoracic curvature of the patient's spine. The nurse should document the presence of which of the following?
A) Scoliosis B) Epiphyses C) Lordosis D) Kyphosis
A patient sustained a C4 fracture in a diving accident. The patient's wife says, "I'll be so glad when he gets off the ventilator so that he can communicate with me.". How should the nurse respond to this statement?
1. "It may be a few weeks before he is strong enough to breathe on his own.". 2. "We don't know if he will be able to talk when we get him off the ventilator.". 3. "There are ways we can teach both of you to communicate that will not require his being off the ventilator.". 4. "We need to focus on his getting better, not on how he will communicate.".