A 33-year-old female client is recovering from a modified radical mastectomy with immediate reconstruction. This is the client’s fourth day postoperatively. Her vital signs are temperature 99°F, pulse 82, respirations 18, and blood pressure 152/90. She continues to complain of considerable pain, with a pain rating of 9 on a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being the worst possible pain. The client was discharged home with a prescription for oxycodone and acetaminophen and has been taking the drugs as prescribed. Which assessment finding would cause the nurse to phone the physician?
A. Itching and slight erythema at the incision site
B. A well-defined oval area near the incision site
C. Small amount of serous drainage at the incision site
D. White blood count (WBC) of 7,000 μL
Preview next quiz:
A client has undergone a transverse rectus abdominis myocutaneous (TRAM) flap procedure for breast reconstruction immediately following a mastectomy. Which of the following would be most appropriate to include in the client’s postoperative plan of care?
A. Inspecting the breast site for expected mottling
B. Encouraging coughing and deep breathing exercises
C. Maintaining the client in the supine position
D. Monitoring the single incisional site at the breast
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