A nurse receives a patient postoperatively who received a neuromuscular blocker, tubocurarine, during surgery. The nurse is performing a physical assessment, including frequent vital signs assessment

Question

Which finding indicates that the frequency of assessments may be decreased?
a. The patient can state his name, the appropriate date, and the year.
b. The patient can void when needed.
c. The patient can move all extremities fully.
d. The patient has vital signs within normal limits.

Answer 1

ANS: C
Tubocurarine can be used for muscle relaxation during surgery. The frequency of vital signs could be decreased once the medication as been fully metabolized by the body, as indicated by the ability of the patient to move all extremities fully.
The patient's ability to state his name, the date, and the year would indicate that he is oriented, not that the effects of the neuromuscular blocking agent have worn off.
The ability to void when needed will indicate that the effects of the anesthesia and the neuromuscular blocking agent may have worn off, but this is not the most appropriate indicator for decreasing assessments by the nurse.
The vital signs are not indicative of the neuromuscular blocking agent being completely metabolized by the body.