Question

4 hr post-vaginal hysterectomy, what should the nurse assess first?

a) Bowel sounds
b) Urinary output
c) Incision site
d) Blood pressure

Answer 1

After a post-vaginal hysterectomy, the nurse should first assess urinary output to ensure that the patient is voiding appropriately and there are no indications of urinary retention or injury to the urinary tract.

Step-by-step explanation:

After a post-vaginal hysterectomy, the priority for the nurse to assess is urinary output. This is because the bladder and urinary tract can be affected during the procedure. It is essential to ensure that the patient is appropriately and regularly voiding urine in the first few hours after surgery as this can indicate the absence of complications such as urinary retention or injury to the urinary tract. While assessing bowel sounds, the incision site, and blood pressure are also important, they generally follow in priority after ensuring that urinary function is not compromised.