Final answer:
The nurse would recognize warmth, redness, and swelling as an inflammatory response in a surgical leg of a patient.
Step-by-step explanation:
The nurse would recognize warmth, redness, and swelling as an inflammatory response in a surgical leg of a patient. These three signs are known as the cardinal signs of inflammation. When there is an infection or injury, the body releases chemicals that cause nearby blood vessels to dilate, increasing blood flow to the damaged area. This increased blood flow leads to warmth, redness, and swelling.