A 5-Year-Old Child Returns from the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit

Multiple Choice

A 5-year-old child returns from the pediatric intensive care unit after abdominal surgery.The orders state to monitor vital signs every 2 hours.On assessment,the nurse observes that the child's heart rate is 20 beats/min less than it was preoperatively.What should be the nurse's next action?

A) Follow the orders and check in 2 hours.
B) Ask the parents if this is the child's usual heart rate.
C) Recheck the pulse and blood pressure in 15 minutes.
D) Notify the surgeon that the child is probably going into shock.