A nurse is caring for a patient following knee surgery that was performed under a spinal anesthetic. What intervention should the nurse implement to prevent a spinal headache?

A nurse is caring for a patient following knee surgery that was performed under a spinal anesthetic. What intervention should the nurse implement to prevent a spinal headache?

The OR nurse is providing care for a 25-year-old major trauma patient who has been involved in a motorcycle accident. The nurse should know that the patient is at increased risk for what complication of surgery?

The nurse is caring for a 79-year-old man who has returned to the postsurgical unit following abdominal surgery. The patient is unable to ambulate and is now refusing to wear an external pneumatic compression stocking. The nurse should explain that refusing to wear external pneumatic compression stockings increases his risk of what postsurgical complication?

A postoperative patient rapidly presents with hypotension; rapid, thready pulse; oliguria; and cold, pale skin. The nurse suspects that the patient is experiencing a hemorrhage. What should be the nurse's first action?

The nurse is providing care for a patient who underwent a splenectomy 48 hours ago following a motor vehicle accident. During the morning assessment, the nurse notes that the patient's urine output has been less than 20 mL/h for the past 4 hours and his blood pressure is 96/50 mm Hg. What should the nurse do first?