Following a right knee arthroplasty, a 74-year-old client is admitted to the orthopedic unit. The client's baseline mental status was alert and oriented. During a routine check, the practical nurse finds the client newly confused and persistently attempting to get out of bed. The client's heart rate is 118 beats/min, respiratory rate is 24 breaths/min, and blood pressure is 106/58 mm Hg. The closed-suction drain has accumulated 260 mL of bright red fluid within the last hour. Which action should the nurse prioritize?
- Alert the registered nurse immediately regarding the change in condition and increased drainageCevap
- BImplement fall precautions and recognize the confusion as a common age-related postoperative reaction
- CDocument the data and plan to reassess in one hour, since the systolic blood pressure remains greater than 100 mm Hg
- DAdminister the prescribed as-needed pain medication to treat the underlying cause of the agitation
Cevap
The priority action is to alert the registered nurse immediately regarding the change in condition and increased drainage.
The client is displaying early signs of hypovolemic shock due to significant postoperative hemorrhage, evidenced by 260 mL of bright red drainage in a single hour. Tachycardia, tachypnea, and sudden confusion (due to decreased cerebral perfusion) are compensatory mechanisms indicating compromised circulation. The absolute priority for the practical nurse is escalating this unstable condition to the registered nurse for immediate medical intervention.
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Hypovolemic Shock Recognition and Prioritization