Final answer:
The nurse should prioritize assessment and intervention for the client with the IV issue first due to potential complications such as infiltration or phlebitis.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question primarily deals with prioritizing patient care in a medical-surgical unit. To determine which client the nurse should see first, the nurse must evaluate the urgency of each patient's condition based on the information given. In this case, the client with the most urgent need appears to be the one with an IV infusing at 125 mL per hour and reporting slight swelling at the insertion site. This could indicate the beginnings of an infiltration or phlebitis, which, if not addressed promptly, could lead to more serious complications. As a result, the nurse would prioritize this client for immediate assessment and intervention.
The client 3 days post right knee replacement reporting pain with movement likely has expected post-operative pain, which would be managed with scheduled pain relief medication. The client with a respiratory rate of 24 breaths per minute and an oxygen saturation of 94% on room air is stable, as the findings are within a relatively normal range. Lastly, the client 12 hours after an abdominal hysterectomy reporting nausea is also important to see, but it does not present the same immediate potential for harm as an IV complication. Prioritizing patient care is essential, and nurses must assess and identify which patient concerns warrant the most immediate attention. Therefore, the nurse would see the client with the IV issue first, followed by an assessment of the other clients in order of urgency based on their symptoms and potential for adverse outcomes.