A postsurgical patient is on a ventilator in the critical care unit.The patient has been tolerating the ventilator well and has not required any sedation.On assessment,the nurse notes the patient is tachycardic and hypertensive with an increased respiratory rate of 28 breaths/min.The patient has been suctioned recently via the endotracheal tube,and the airway is clear.The patient responds appropriately to the nurse's commands.The nurse should:

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Pulse,respirations,and blood pressure frequently result from activation of the sympathetic nervous system by the pain stimulus.Because the patient is postoperative,the patient should be assessed for the presence of pain and need for pain medication.Decreasing the ventilator rate will not help in this situation.Providing sedation may calm the patient but will not solve the problem if the physiological changes are from pain.The patient has just been suctioned and the airway is clear.There is no need to suction again.

A Postsurgical Patient Is on a Ventilator in the Critical