Question

Which information about a patient who had a stapedotomy yesterday is most important for the nurse to communicate to the health care provider?

a. The patient complains of "fullness" in the ear.
b. The patient's oral temperature is 100.8° F (38.1° C).
c. The patient says "My hearing is worse now than it was right after surgery."
d. There is a small amount of dried bloody drainage on the patient's dressing.

Answer 1

The most critical information to report is the patient's elevated temperature of 100.8° F (38.1° C), as it may indicate an infection post-stapedotomy.

Step-by-step explanation:

The most important information for the nurse to communicate to the health care provider regarding a patient who had a stapedotomy yesterday is that the patient's oral temperature is 100.8° F (38.1° C), answer choice b. This elevated temperature could indicate an infection, which is a significant complication after surgery. Complaints of "fullness" in the ear, while worth noting, are a common postoperative symptom. A decrease in hearing immediately after surgery could be due to normal swelling, and a small amount of dried bloody drainage might be expected. However, an elevated temperature, akin to that observed in clinical cases of localized infections or inflammation, like in the provided reference cases, is a potential sign of a systemic infection requiring urgent attention.