Questions: A client has undergone subtotal thyroidectomy with an uneventful postoperative course. If one of the following precautions were prescribed, the nurse would suspect that: 1. Warning the client 2. Administering oxygen 3. Giving fluid replacement 4. Administering thyroid hormone

The answer is the fourth one: Administering thyroid hormone.

Explanation for each option:

1. Warning the client: This option is vague and does not specify what the warning is about. It is not directly related to the specific needs of a patient who has undergone a subtotal thyroidectomy.

2. Administering oxygen: This is a general supportive measure that might be used in various situations but is not specifically related to the effects of a subtotal thyroidectomy.

3. Giving fluid replacement: Fluid replacement is a common postoperative care measure to ensure proper hydration and maintain blood pressure, but it is not specific to the needs following a subtotal thyroidectomy.

4. Administering thyroid hormone: After a subtotal thyroidectomy, the patient may require thyroid hormone replacement therapy because the remaining thyroid tissue may not produce sufficient hormones to meet the body's needs. This is a specific precaution related to the surgery and its potential impact on thyroid function.

In summary, administering thyroid hormone is a precaution that directly addresses the potential need for hormone replacement following a subtotal thyroidectomy.