The nurse assesses a patient after total right hip arthroplasty and observes a shortening of the extremity. The patient also complains of severe pain in the right side of the groin. What is the priority action of the nurse?

a) Apply Buck's traction.
b) Notify the physician.
c) Externally rotate the extremity.
d) Bend the knee and rotate the knee internally.

The nurse's priority action when observing extremity shortening and groin pain following a hip arthroplasty is to notify the physician, as it indicates a potential complication that requires immediate medical assessment. The correct option is b.

Explanation:

Observing a shortening of the extremity, along with the patient complaining of severe pain in the right side of the groin after a total right hip arthroplasty, potentially indicates a complication such as dislocation of the prosthetic joint. The priority action the nurse should take is b) Notify the physician. This step is crucial because it may necessitate immediate medical intervention to correct the dislocation or address other complications.

Attempting to apply Buck's traction, externally rotating the extremity, or bending and rotating the knee internally could worsen the condition or lead to further injury. The medical team needs to assess the situation promptly to determine the appropriate response, which may include imaging studies to confirm the dislocation and planning for possible revision surgery or realignment.