Pediatric ATI Practice Exam

Which priority finding should the nurse report after a toddler's tonsillectomy?

1. Drowsiness.

2. Throat pain.

3. Continuous swallowing.

4. Dark brown emesis.

The correct answer is: Continuous swallowing.

After a toddler's tonsillectomy, the priority finding to report is continuous swallowing. This symptom could indicate bleeding from the surgical site. Postoperative bleeding is a serious complication that can occur after a tonsillectomy, and continuous swallowing may suggest that the child is trying to clear blood or that they are experiencing significant blood loss. In contrast, drowsiness and throat pain are expected and manageable symptoms following the procedure. While some throat pain is common due to the surgical intervention, it should be monitored but does not require immediate intervention unless it is severe. Dark brown emesis may also occur and can be attributed to the presence of old blood in the stomach, which is less urgent than the potential signal of active bleeding indicated by continuous swallowing. Therefore, recognizing and reporting continuous swallowing is critical to ensuring the safety and well-being of the child following surgery.