After a cardiac catheterization, what is the most likely complaint from the client?

After a cardiac catheterization, the most common complaint from a client is typically pain or discomfort at the insertion site. This procedure involves threading a catheter through a blood vessel, often in the groin or wrist, and it can lead to localized bruising, tenderness, or soreness where the catheter was inserted. Patients may experience varying degrees of discomfort as the site heals from the minor trauma caused by the procedure.

Addressing the other options, while a patient might indeed have fear of dying or anxiety due to intensive monitoring, these feelings are often addressed and managed through reassurance and education provided by healthcare staff. Skipped heartbeats, or palpitations, can occur but may not be as prevalent in the direct aftermath of the procedure compared to the physical discomfort experienced at the insertion site. Thus, the specific nature of the procedure and the physical implications of it support that pain at the insertion site is the most likely complaint following cardiac catheterization.