Question

The nurse has just received a change-of-shift report. Which client should the nurse assess first? A. A client 2 hours post-lobectomy with 150ccs drainage B. A client 2 days post-gastrectomy with scant drainage C. A client with pneumonia with an oral temperature of \(102^{\circ} \mathrm{F}\) D. A client with a fractured hip in Buck's traction

Short answer

Answer: C. A client with pneumonia with an oral temperature of \(102^{\circ}\mathrm{F}\).

Step-by-step solution

Analyze option A

A client 2 hours post-lobectomy with 150ccs drainage: Since this client has recently undergone a lobectomy and has a significant amount of drainage, they require close monitoring, but they are not necessarily in an urgent situation compared to others.

Analyze option B

A client 2 days post-gastrectomy with scant drainage: This client has undergone a gastrectomy, but since the operation was two days ago and the drainage is scant, the urgency of attending to this client is not high.

Analyze option C

A client with pneumonia with an oral temperature of \(102^{\circ}\mathrm{F}\): This client has a fever due to pneumonia. A temperature of \(102^{\circ}\mathrm{F}\) indicates that the client is experiencing a high fever, and this can be a sign of a severe infection. Monitoring and treating this client is crucial to avoid further complications.

Analyze option D

A client with a fractured hip in Buck's traction: Although this client is experiencing pain due to a fractured hip, they are in Buck's traction, which is aimed at stabilizing the injury and reducing pain. Though they require attention, their condition is stable compared to option C.

Determine the priority

After analyzing each option, it is clear that the client with pneumonia and a temperature of \(102^{\circ}\mathrm{F}\) (option C) requires immediate attention as it can indicate a severe infection and may lead to further complications if not assessed and treated promptly. So the correct answer is C. A client with pneumonia with an oral temperature of \(102^{\circ}\mathrm{F}\).