A 28-year-old woman was admitted to the hospital for a thyroidectomy. Postoperatively she is taken to the postanesthesia care unit for several hours. In preparing for the client's return to her…

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Options

• ADressings are placed at the bedside for dressing changes, which are to be done every 2 hours to
• BNarcotics are readily available and administered when the client returns to her room to prevent
• CA tracheostomy set, O2, and suction are available at the bedside.
• DThe nurse should instruct the client as soon as possible on alternative means of communication.

• A
  9% (3)
• B
  3% (1)
• C
  72% (23)
• D
  16% (5)

Explanation

(A) Dressing changes are done as necessary for bleeding. However, frequently, post-thyroidectomy bleeding may not be visible on the dressing, but blood may drain down the back of the neck by gravity. (B) Narcotics are administered for acute pain as necessary. They are not necessarily given on return of the client to her room. (C) The most serious postthyroidectomy complication is ineffective airway and breathing pattern related to tracheal compression and edema. A tracheostomy set, O2, and suction should be available at bedside for at least the first 24 hours postoperatively. (D) Impaired verbalcommunication may occur due to laryngeal edema or nerve damage, but most commonly, it occurs due to endotracheal intubation. The client is usually able to communicate but

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