Question

A nurse has just received report on four clients on a medical-surgical unit. Which of the following clients should the nurse plan to assess first?

Option 1: A client who has COPD and an oxygen saturation level of 92%.

Option 2: A client who is postoperative following a total knee arthroplasty and has a capillary refill of 4 seconds.

Option 3: A client who has diabetes mellitus and a blood glucose of 150 mg/dL.

Option 4: A client who is 12 hr postoperative following abdominal surgery and has absent bowel.

Answer 1

The nurse should assess the client who is 12 hr postoperative following abdominal surgery and has an absent bowel first, as this could indicate a potential complication that requires immediate intervention.

Step-by-step explanation:

The nurse should plan to assess the client who is 12 hr postoperative following abdominal surgery and has an absent bowel. This is because absent bowel sounds could indicate a potential complication such as bowel obstruction or bowel perforation, which require immediate intervention. The other options may also require assessment and intervention, but the absent bowel sounds are the most urgent and potentially life-threatening.