Editing Medical-Surgical Nursing – LPN Practice Questions (section)

==Question 1==
A licensed practical nurse is collecting data on a patient two days after abdominal surgery. Which finding should be reported to the registered nurse right away?
# The patient reports incisional pain of 4 out of 10 before the scheduled analgesic.
# The abdominal dressing has a small amount of dried serosanguineous drainage from yesterday.
# The patient's oral temperature is 101.8 degrees Fahrenheit with new purulent drainage from the incision.
# The patient has not had a bowel movement since surgery but is passing flatus.

'''Answer:''' Option 3, the temperature of 101.8 degrees Fahrenheit with new purulent drainage.

''Rationale:'' Fever combined with new purulent wound drainage suggests a surgical site infection and must be reported promptly. Option 1 is expected pain that is managed with the prescribed analgesic. Option 2 describes normal, old drainage. Option 4 is expected; passing flatus is a reassuring sign that bowel function is returning, and a bowel movement often does not occur for a few days after abdominal surgery.