After colon surgery, what should a nurse do if a patient is experiencing shallow respirations and hypoxemia with an abdominal binder in place?

When a patient has undergone colon surgery and is experiencing shallow respirations and hypoxemia with an abdominal binder in place, loosening the abdominal binder is the most appropriate action. An abdominal binder is often applied postoperatively to provide support to the abdomen, but it can also restrict the patient's breathing, especially if it is too tight. Tight binders can prevent full expansion of the lungs and contribute to shallow breathing, which may lead to or exacerbate hypoxemia.

By loosening the binder, the nurse can help improve the patient's ability to take deeper breaths and enhance lung expansion. This, in turn, can facilitate better oxygenation and alleviate some symptoms of hypoxemia.

While the other options might seem reasonable in certain contexts, they may not address the underlying issue of respiratory restriction caused by the binder. For example, applying supplemental oxygen might provide immediate relief for hypoxemia but does not resolve the cause of shallow breathing. Similarly, repositioning the patient to a sitting position could be beneficial but wouldn’t be feasible if the binder remains tight. Administering a bronchodilator is primarily used for cases of bronchospasm rather than issues related to restricted breathing from an abdominal binder. Thus, loosening the binder directly addresses the respiratory issue