Upon assessing a surgical dressing on the first postoperative day, the nurse notes new bright-red drainage about 5 cm in diameter. What is the nurse's priority action?

In the scenario described, the priority action for the nurse upon observing new bright-red drainage from a surgical dressing on the first postoperative day is to assess the patient's blood pressure and heart rate. This action is crucial as it helps determine the patient's hemodynamic stability and can indicate whether they are experiencing significant blood loss or hemorrhagic complications. Bright red drainage is often a sign of fresh blood, and this can raise immediate concerns regarding the patient's volume status and overall condition.

Monitoring vital signs such as blood pressure and heart rate provides essential data that informs subsequent interventions. For example, tachycardia (increased heart rate) or hypotension (low blood pressure) may signal that the patient is losing blood rapidly, necessitating urgent measures. By assessing these parameters first, the nurse can quickly gather critical information that may guide further actions, whether that involves changing the dressing, notifying the surgeon, or managing the patient's condition.

While notifying the surgeon, changing the dressing, or documenting the findings are important tasks, they follow from first ensuring that the patient is stable. Timely intervention based on the assessment of vital signs helps prioritize patient safety and outcomes in the immediate postoperative period.