When providing care for a postoperative patient, it is important ...

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When providing care for a postoperative patient, it is important for the nurse to include which postoperative exercise?
 
  a. Turning every 4 hours
  b. Completing leg exercises once daily
  c. Repeating individual leg exercises 20 times
  d. Performing exercises with the unaffected extremities

Question 2

The patient is being sent home from the hospital after a cardiac catheterization. What should the nurse instruct the patient to do first if bleeding should occur at the femoral artery puncture site?
 
  a. Call the physician.
  b. Call 9-1-1.
  c. Apply pressure to the site.
  d. Apply a new bandage.

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Answer to Question 1

D
A leg unaffected by surgery can be exercised safely unless the patient has preexisting phlebothrombosis (blood clot formation) or thrombophlebitis (inflammation of the vein wall).
Instruct the patient to turn every 2 hours from side to back to the other side while awake. Have the patient continue to practice exercises at least every 2 hours while awake and repeat exercises 5 times. Instruct the patient to coordinate turning and leg exercises with diaphragmatic breathing, incentive spirometry, and coughing exercises.

Answer to Question 2

C
Wounds to the groin area can result in a large amount of blood loss, which is not always visible. If bleeding should occur at the femoral artery puncture site, the patient should apply direct pressure immediately. At home, the patient may apply pressure with clean towels or linen. The patient should call the physician as soon as possible after homeostasis is established. The patient should call 9-1-1 as soon as possible after applying pressure to the site.