The nurse is developing the postoperative plan of care for a patient recovering from surgery for oral cancer. Which nursing diagnosis has the highest priority?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Ineffective Airway Clearance is the most critical issue in the postoperative care of a patient recovering from oral cancer surgery. The patient may have difficulty breathing due to swelling, bleeding, or airway obstruction caused by the surgery. This could lead to life-threatening complications if not addressed immediately. Impaired Verbal Communication, Body Image Disturbance, and Risk for Imbalanced Nutrition should also be addressed, but they are not as life-threatening as Ineffective Airway Clearance.

The Nurse Is Developing the Postoperative Plan of Care for a Patient