You are the nurse caring for a patient who just had surgery. What is your highest priority?
A) Assessing for hemorrhage
B) Maintaining a patent airway
C) Managing the patient's pain
D) Assessing vital signs every 15 minutes
Ans: B
Feedback: The primary objective in the immediate postoperative period is to maintain ventilation and, thus, prevent hypoxemia (reduced oxygen in the blood) and hypercapnia (excess carbon dioxide in the blood). Assessing for hemorrhage and vital sign assessment are also important but constitute second and third priorities. Pain management is important but only after the patient has been stabilized.
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