The patient is brought to the floor from the post-anesthesia care unit following orthopedic surgery. Which action does the nurse take first?

Perform an initial assessment and obtain vital signs. The first action by the nurse is to perform an initial assessment (airway, breathing, and circulation) and obtain a set of vital signs. Once the patient has been assessed, the nurse verifies the medication hanging in the PCA pump. A Glasgow coma scale assessment is likely unnecessary for the patient following orthopedic surgery. Pain medication can be administered once the patient is determined to be stable and requires additional pain medication.

The patient is brought to the floor from the post-anesthesia care...

Category: Management of Care
Difficulty: 5

Topics: Delegation, Prioritization and Leadership Health Promotion Medication and Blood Products Routes of Administration

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