The nurse on the orthopedic floor receives report from the previous shift. Which client should the nurse go see first? A. A client 2 hours post total hip replacement who is complaining of pain B. A client admitted during the previous shift with a fractured tibia C. A client with a fractured femur and a reported rash on the chest D. A newly admitted client with a fiberglass cast applied 1 hour ago

Consider the following factors: - Stability or instability of the condition - Time sensitivity to address the problem - Potential harm to the client - Assessing the pain level and potential complications

Let's analyze each client's situation: A. A client 2 hours post total hip replacement who is complaining of pain: - Known pain and possible early complications from the surgery - Time-sensitive, as pain should be addressed quickly - The condition is stable, but potentially uncomfortable B. A client admitted during the previous shift with a fractured tibia: - Known pain caused by the fracture, but already admitted and under care - Not time-sensitive as it has already been addressed during the previous shift - The condition is stable C. A client with a fractured femur and a reported rash on the chest: - Known pain caused by the fracture - Rash might indicate an unexpected complication such as an allergic reaction - Time-sensitive, as the rash's cause needs to be assessed - The condition is potentially unstable due to the unknown rash D. A newly admitted client with a fiberglass cast applied 1 hour ago: - Pain caused by the injury, but the cast has already been applied - Not time-sensitive, as the cast has already been applied recently - The condition is stable

Review the evaluations and prioritize the clients as follows: 1. The client with a potentially unstable condition and time-sensitive concern (Client C) 2. The client experiencing pain post-surgery (Client A) 3. The newly admitted client with a fiberglass cast applied 1 hour ago (Client D) 4. The client admitted during the previous shift with a fractured tibia (Client B)

Based on the analysis and prioritization, the nurse should see the client with a fractured femur and a reported rash on the chest (Client C) first, as their condition has the most time-sensitive and potentially unstable factors to be assessed.