Which information about a patient who had a stapedotomy yesterday ...

[SO00]

Which information about a patient who had a stapedotomy yesterday is most important for the nurse to communicate to the health care provider?
 
  a. The patient complains of fullness in the ear.
  b. The patient's oral temperature is 100.8 F (38.1 C).
  c. The patient says My hearing is worse now than it was right after surgery.
  d. There is a small amount of dried bloody drainage on the patient's dressing.

Question 2

The priority nursing diagnosis for a patient experiencing an acute attack with Meniere's disease is
 
  a. risk for falls related to dizziness.
  b. impaired verbal communication related to tinnitus.
  c. self-care deficit (bathing and dressing) related to vertigo.
  d. imbalanced nutrition: less than body requirements related to nausea.

[shayla]

Answer to Question 1

ANS: B
An elevated temperature may indicate a postoperative infection. Although the nurse would report all the data, a temporary decrease in hearing, bloody drainage on the dressing, and a feeling of congestion (because of the accumulation of blood and drainage in the ear) are common after this surgery.

Answer to Question 2

ANS: A
All the nursing diagnoses are appropriate, but because sudden attacks of vertigo can lead to drop attacks, the major focus of nursing care is to prevent injuries associated with dizziness.