Difficulty: Medium
Average Score: 66%
Simulated
A one-day post-operative client complains of severe abdominal pain and has shallow respirations at 22/minute. The client is reluctant to perform coughing and deep breathing. Based on the data, the priority problem that the nurse could assign to this patient is:
Correct answer
B
Rationale
Ineffective breathing pattern is the priority problem, as evidenced by shallow respirations and reluctance to perform coughing and deep breathing, which can lead to atelectasis or pneumonia. Gas exchange issues may follow, but the breathing pattern is the immediate concern. Activity intolerance and cardiac function are not directly indicated.