A nurse is caring for the older patient who had knee replacement surgery 8 days ago.What assessment by the nurse is most important?
A)Determining whether the patient has sensation to the foot
B)Asking the patient to rate his or her current pain
C)Observing the incision site for redness or drainage
D)Monitoring the calf for warmth and tenderness

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Monitoring the calf for warmth and tenderness is crucial to assess for the development of deep vein thrombosis (DVT), which is a potential complication after knee replacement surgery. This assessment should be prioritized over the other options listed. Sensation to the foot, pain rating, and observing the incision site are all important assessments, but monitoring for DVT is the most critical in this situation.

A Nurse Is Caring for the Older Patient Who Had