Final answer:
The least important nursing assessment when monitoring a patient receiving hydromorphone (Dilaudid) is bowel sounds. Fluid intake, pain scale, and vital signs are all important assessments.
Step-by-step explanation:
The least important nursing assessment when monitoring a patient receiving hydromorphone (Dilaudid) would be a. Bowel sounds. While monitoring bowel sounds is important for identifying gastrointestinal issues, it is not directly related to the effects or complications of hydromorphone administration. On the other hand, b. Fluid intake, c. Pain scale, and d. Vital signs are all important assessments when monitoring a patient receiving hydromorphone. Fluid intake is important to assess the patient's hydration status, pain scale helps in evaluating the effectiveness of the medication, and vital signs helps in monitoring the patient's physiological response to the drug.
While monitoring fluid intake is generally important in patient care, it is not a direct consideration specifically related to the administration of hydromorphone. The primary assessments for patients receiving opioids like hydromorphone typically include monitoring pain levels (option c), vital signs (option d), and potential side effects, such as changes in bowel sounds (option a).
However, it's important to note that the overall assessment of a patient's fluid balance is still crucial in the broader context of patient care, but it may not be directly linked to the administration of hydromorphone. Always consider the individual patient's condition and the context of care.