The nurse is caring for a patient after an esophagectomy.In the immediate postoperative period,which nursing intervention would have the highest priority?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

It is imperative to appropriately manage the patient's pain after gastrointestinal (GI)surgery.Adequate analgesia is necessary to promote the mobility of the patient and decrease pulmonary complications.Initial pain management may be accomplished by intravenous opioid (morphine,hydromorphone)administration by means of a patient-controlled analgesia (PCA)pump or through continuous epidural infusion of an opioid and local anesthetic (bupivacaine).

The Nurse Is Caring for a Patient After an Esophagectomy