Question

The nurse is caring for a patient the first postoperative day following a laparotomy for a small bowel obstruction. The nurse notices new bright-red drainage about 5 cm in diameter on the dressing. Which action should the nurse take first?

a. Reinforce the dressing.
b. Apply an abdominal binder.
c. Take the patient's vital signs.
d. Recheck the dressing in 1 hour for increased drainage.

Answer 1

The nurse should first take the patient's vital signs.

Step-by-step explanation:

The nurse should take the action of taking the patient’s vital signs first. The presence of new bright-red drainage on the dressing may indicate bleeding or hemorrhage, which could be a potentially serious complication after a laparotomy for a small bowel obstruction. Taking the patient’s vital signs will help assess their overall condition and provide important data for the nurse to make further decisions.