While caring for a patient on post op day 1 after a total abdominal hysterectomy, the patient reports a pain level of 4 on a 1-10 scale. The nurse provides two tablets of Anexsia (hydrocodone/acetaminophen 5 mg/325 mg) orally along with the patient's other morning medications, which include Isordil (isosorbide) 10 mg and Lasix (furosemide) 20 mg orally at 9 a.m. Which of the following instructions should the nurse provide to the nursing assistant regarding the patient's activity?
A) "Have her sit at the side of the bed for a minute before walking as she may be dizzy."
B) "She should only take a short walk right now since she just ate her breakfast."
C) "Wait to walk her until after lunch so her pain is better."
D) "Let's not walk her today since she seems rather tired."

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Anexsia contains hydrocodone, which can cause dizziness and drowsiness, especially when combined with other medications such as Isordil and Lasix. Therefore, the nurse should instruct the nursing assistant to have the patient sit at the side of the bed for a minute before walking to assess for any potential dizziness before ambulating the patient.

While Caring for a Patient on Post Op Day 1