The nurse is monitoring a patient in the postanesthesia care unit (PACU) for postoperative fluid and electrolyte imbalance. Which of the following actions would be most appropriate for this patient?

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: Measuring and recording all intake and output best monitors fluid/electrolyte balance in the PACU, assessing renal and circulatory function post-anesthesia. Precise data (e.g., IV fluids, urine output) detect imbalances like hypovolemia or overload, guiding therapy. Copious water risks nausea in early recovery. Weighing is impractical in PACU done later. An extra IV isn't routine without imbalance evidence. This action ensures timely correction, aligning with postoperative care to maintain stability.

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: When selecting a chemical agent (e.g., disinfectant), practical efficacy and safety are paramount. 'The colour of the chemical agent,' is correct as the exception because it does not impact the agent's ability to kill pathogens, unlike the other factors. 'Stability during storage,' is critical, as an unstable agent (e.g., bleach losing potency) becomes ineffective. 'Efficiency of the chemical agent,' is essential, determining its pathogen-killing power (e.g., contact time studies in microbiology). 'Time taken to act,' affects usability, as faster agents are preferred in urgent settings. Colour, however, is cosmetic, not functional; guidelines like those from the EPA focus on performance metrics, not appearance. While colour might indicate concentration in rare cases, it's not a standard consideration in efficacy, making D the irrelevant factor among these practical criteria.

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: Patient rights stem from autonomy, the ethical principle granting individuals control over their medical decisions. 'Autonomy,' is correct because it underpins rights like informed consent, as per Beauchamp and Childress' Principles of Biomedical Ethics, emphasizing self-determination. 'Fidelity,' is loyalty to commitments, not rights' source. 'Veracity,' is truthfulness, supporting autonomy but not foundational. 'Confidentiality,' protects privacy, a right derived from autonomy, not its origin. Autonomy's primacy in healthcare ethics—allowing patients to choose or refuse treatment—makes D the precise answer, aligning with legal and ethical standards like the Patient Bill of Rights.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: Pharmacokinetically, routes are compared by absorption speed and bioavailability. 'Subcutaneous,' is correct because it, like intramuscular (IM), involves injection into tissue with similar absorption via capillaries, though slower than IM due to less vascularity (e.g., Rang & Dale's Pharmacology). 'Enteral,' is oral, with first-pass metabolism, unlike IM. 'Intravenous,' delivers directly to blood, bypassing absorption. 'Intracardial,' is rare, directly into the heart, not tissue-based. Subcutaneous and IM share depot-like absorption patterns, making B the closest match to IM's profile, distinct from systemic or gastrointestinal routes.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: Suxamethonium (succinylcholine) is a muscle relaxant used in anesthesia. 'Depolarizing muscle relaxant,' is correct because it mimics acetylcholine, causing persistent depolarization and paralysis, per pharmacology texts (e.g., Katzung). 'Non depolarizing muscle relaxant,' (e.g., rocuronium) competes with acetylcholine, not depolarizes. 'Induction agent,' (e.g., propofol) induces unconsciousness, not relaxation. 'Reversal agent,' (e.g., neostigmine) counters non-depolarizing agents, not suxamethonium. Its depolarizing mechanism, ideal for rapid intubation, makes A the accurate answer.