Question

The nurse on the medical-surgical unit is receiving a transfer report from the post-anesthesia care unit (PACU) nurse for a client who had an exploratory laparotomy. The PACU nurse provides the following information: "1000 mL normal saline is infusing at 125 mL/hr into the left wrist with 600 mL remaining. Ondansetron 4 mg intravenously every 8 hours is prescribed for nausea. The last dose was administered at 0700. The client is currently describing pain at a level 2 on a 0 to 10 pain scale. The client has a prescription for hydromorphone 1 mg intravenously every 2 hours as needed for pain. The last dose was administered at 1000." Which additional information should the PACU nurse report?

Answer 1

The PACU nurse should report the patient's vital signs, surgical drain outputs, condition of the incision site, level of consciousness, allergies, and recent lab results for thorough transfer of care.

Step-by-step explanation:

When the PACU nurse is reporting to the medical-surgical unit nurse, it is important to convey all relevant clinical information to ensure continuity of care. For the client who had an exploratory laparotomy, key facts provided included the status of the intravenous fluids, medication for nausea control, and pain management details. However, additional critical information should include the client’s vital signs, any surgical drain outputs, the state of the surgical incision site, the client's level of consciousness, any allergies the client might have, and the most recent laboratory results. This information would ensure that the medical-surgical unit nurse is fully apprised of the client’s condition and can continue to provide safe and effective care.