The patient is in the post-anesthesia care unit (PACU) following abdominal surgery. Which finding would prompt the nurse to delay discharge from the PACU to a hospital bed?

Bleeding from the surgical incision site. Even if a patient is being discharged to a hospital bed, all patients should be stable before leaving the PACU. Blood pressure that is within normal limits and some surgical pain are normal and would not delay transfer. Some blood in the JP drain is normal, but active bleeding from the surgical incision is not and would delay transfer.

The patient is in the post-anesthesia care unit (PACU) following ...

Category: Management of Care
Difficulty: 8

Topics: Cardiovascular Hematology/Oncology Communication & Documentation Disease Prevention Health Care Quality Health Promotion Nursing Interventions Tissue Integrity

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