The nurse is caring for a child who has just returned from the operating room after a tonsillectomy. What symptom would the nurse monitor for which would be an early indication of bleeding?

Rationale: A. Continuous swallowing while asleep: Continuous swallowing can indicate that the child is swallowing blood from a bleeding site in the throat. This subtle but important sign often appears early after tonsillectomy and signals the need for immediate assessment. B. Decreased blood pressure: A drop in blood pressure is a late indicator of significant hemorrhage and hypovolemia. Waiting for hypotension before acting risks severe complications, so earlier signs should guide nursing interventions. C. Throat pain: Throat pain is a normal postoperative symptom due to tissue trauma from surgery. While uncomfortable, it does not necessarily indicate bleeding and should be differentiated from signs of hemorrhage. D. Dark brown, bloody emesis: Vomiting dark brown blood reflects older, clotted blood and usually occurs after bleeding has already been ongoing. It is a later sign compared to subtle early indicators like continuous swallowing.