How should the nurse respond to a patient with significant vital sign changes post-operatively?

In cases where a patient exhibits significant vital sign changes post-operatively, the priority is ensuring the patient's safety and addressing potential complications. Notifying the attending physician immediately is crucial because vital sign changes can indicate issues such as hemorrhage, infection, or other critical conditions that require prompt medical intervention. Timely communication with the physician ensures that the patient receives the necessary evaluation and treatment to prevent deterioration.

Continuing to monitor and documenting changes could be important, but it does not address the immediate need for intervention. Assessing for pain and providing reassurance, while valuable aspects of patient care, do not take precedence over the need for urgent medical evaluation in the context of concerning vital signs. Therefore, prompt notification of the physician is the appropriate nursing action in this scenario.