An 82-year-old client with a history of early-stage dementia is recovering on the medical-surgical unit three hours after a percutaneous liver biopsy. The client is positioned on the right side and begins complaining of a new, persistent ache in the right shoulder. The nurse observes the client is becoming increasingly drowsy and slightly confused. Current vital signs are a heart rate of 106 beats per minute, blood pressure of 102/60 mm Hg, and a respiratory rate of 22 breaths per minute. Baseline vital signs prior to the procedure were a heart rate of 72 beats per minute and blood pressure of 142/84 mm Hg. Which action is the priority for the nurse to take?
- Ensure the client remains positioned on the right side and urgently report the clinical findings to the supervising nurse.Cevap
- BAdminister the prescribed as-needed analgesic medication to address the new onset of shoulder discomfort.
- CDocument the current vital signs as acceptable and continue with the standard postoperative monitoring schedule.
- DAttribute the increased drowsiness to the client's baseline cognitive status and dim the room lights to encourage sleep.
Cevap
The priority action is to ensure the client remains positioned on the right side and to urgently report the clinical findings to the supervising nurse.
The correct answer prioritizes life-saving actions based on subtle clinical cues. A percutaneous liver biopsy carries a high risk of internal bleeding. The client is presenting with a triad of hemorrhage indicators: referred right shoulder pain (caused by blood pooling under the diaphragm and irritating the phrenic nerve), early hemodynamic decompensation (tachycardia and a significant drop in blood pressure from baseline), and decreased cerebral perfusion (manifesting as drowsiness and confusion). By maintaining the right side-lying position, the nurse uses the client's body weight to tamponade the bleeding liver capsule. Simultaneously, urgently escalating these findings ensures the client receives immediate medical interventions for hypovolemic shock.
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Recognition of internal hemorrhage and early hypovolemic shock following a liver biopsy.
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