What should a nurse do after applying pressure and paging the surgeon for a patient with a bleeding incision?

Applying pressure to control bleeding is a critical immediate action in managing a patient with a bleeding incision. After this, it is essential to ensure that the dressing is adequate to manage the ongoing bleed and that further supplies are available for the healthcare team. Calling for additional dressing supplies ensures that the nurse can promptly respond to any further bleeding that may occur while waiting for the surgeon. This proactive step enhances patient safety and provides the necessary resources for timely management of the situation.

While checking vital signs is certainly an important part of monitoring a patient’s condition, and documenting findings is essential for accurate medical records and communications, the most immediate concern in this specific scenario is to ensure that there are adequate resources available to manage the bleeding effectively. Ordering additional laboratory tests may also be indicated later but is not as urgent immediately following the application of pressure and notification of the surgeon.