A practical nurse (PN) is contributing to the care of a client who is 4 hours postoperative following a total thyroidectomy. Which interventions should the PN implement to reduce the client's risk for postoperative complications? (Select all that apply.)
- Keep an emergency tracheostomy tray and functioning suction equipment readily available at the bedside.Cevap
- Assess the surgical dressing and the back of the client's neck for dependent pooling of blood.Cevap
- Monitor for the presence of a positive Trousseau's sign or Chvostek's sign during routine data collection.Cevap
- DMaintain the client in a flat, supine position to minimize tension on the cervical suture line.
- EAdminister the prescribed intravenous push (IVP) morphine sulfate to manage severe incisional pain.
- FEscalate to the registered nurse immediately if the client's serum total calcium level is reported as 9.4 mg/dL (2.35 mmol/L).
Cevap
The correct interventions are to keep an emergency tracheostomy tray and suction equipment at the bedside, assess the back of the neck for dependent bleeding, and monitor for Trousseau's or Chvostek's signs.
The correct actions directly address the three most critical complications of a thyroidectomy. Maintaining airway equipment at the bedside prepares the care team for acute respiratory distress caused by swelling, hematoma, or laryngeal nerve damage. Checking the back of the neck ensures dependent hemorrhage is not missed, as blood often drains posteriorly via gravity. Monitoring for Trousseau's or Chvostek's signs allows for early clinical detection of hypocalcemia, which frequently occurs if the parathyroid glands were disturbed or removed during surgery.
Adım Adım Çözüm
Anahtar Kavram
Postoperative Thyroidectomy Complications and Scope of Practice