The nurse is caring for a patient who is postoperative after esophageal resection. Shortly after the nurse starts a feeding, the patient suddenly becomes dyspneic and complains of substernal pain. What should the nurse do first?
a. Stop the feeding.
b. Ambulate the patient.
c. Notify the charge nurse.
d. Reassure the patient.
A
After esophageal resection, pain, increased temperature, and dyspnea may indicate leakage of the feeding into the mediastinum. The nurse should immediately discontinue the feeding, then notify the charge nurse and address any patient concerns. Ambulation is not indicated at this time; am-bulation is an intervention to address gas pains.
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