A client who ruptured his spleen in a motor vehicle accident rates his postoperative pain as a level 8 on a 0 to 10 pain scale.After administering pain medication,the nurse discusses the use of complementary therapies with the client to explore ways to reduce the pain.The client would like to try a massage.The nurse delegates this task to the assistive personnel (AP).Which of the following instructions is most important for the nurse to share with the AP?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The nurse should instruct the AP not to massage the client's legs or calf muscles,because there is a risk for dislodging a vascular clot.The nurse needs to know about changes in the condition of the client's skin,but this can be obtained after the client's massage-it is not as critical as the AP's knowing not to massage the client's legs before beginning the massage.

A Client Who Ruptured His Spleen in a Motor Vehicle