Final answer:
The nurse should initially determine if the post-op client is experiencing pain, which could contribute to sinus tachycardia. If pain is managed and tachycardia persists, assessing the apical heart rate thoroughly is crucial, and notifying the cardiac surgeon may be necessary.
Step-by-step explanation:
The client who is one day post-op coronary artery bypass surgery and exhibiting sinus tachycardia (a heart rate above 100 beats per minute) should be managed with careful assessment and consideration for the underlying cause. The initial nursing intervention would be to determine if the client is having pain, which can lead to an increased heart rate. Pain is a common issue after surgery and can contribute to tachycardia. The nurse should address and manage the pain effectively, which may help in normalizing the heart rate.
Another important intervention is to assess the apical heart rate for one full minute to determine stability and rhythm of the heart beat, which can provide valuable information about the client's condition. If the situation appears critical, or if tachycardia persists despite pain management, the nurse should notify the client's cardiac surgeon immediately. While preparations for interventions such as implantable cardioverter defibrillators or synchronized cardioversion might be necessary in some cases, these are not first-line responses and should be directed by the surgical or cardiology team.