April West, a 44-year-old female client, arrived to the medical-surgical unit from the PACU after a partial abdominal hysterectomy (ovaries and fallopian tubes remain). The client has an 18-gauge IV site per right forearm (FA) with D5RL at 125 mL/hr infusing per IV infusion pump. The lower horizontal abdominal dressing with ABD pad folded in half and covered with a Tegaderm is dry and intact. The JP drain has 30 mL of sanguineous drainage present. Thigh-high antiembolism stockings are intact, and there are orders for pneumatic compression boots to be in place while in bed. A Foley catheter is draining clear amber urine without sediments, and there is 150 mL of urine in the collection bag. The LPN/LVN received report from the PACU nursebefore the client arrived and now needs to perform assessments to prevent postoperative complications.
(Learning Objective 11)
a. What initial assessment should the LPN/LVN perform when the client arrives from PACU?
b. What additional assessments need to be made in order to prevent postoperative complications?