Difficulty: Medium
Average Score: 75%
Simulated
Passage / Scenario
A patient arrives in the PACU with a surgical dressing, an intravenous infusion, and a urinary catheter.When a patient arrives in the PACU with a surgical dressing, an intravenous infusion, and a urinary catheter, the priority action of the nurse is assessment of:
Correct answer
C
Rationale
The priority in the immediate postoperative period is maintaining a patent airway, as patients are at risk for respiratory complications such as obstruction, hypoxia, and aspiration due to anesthesia effects.