Author Question: To promote deep breathing, coughing, and turning by a postoperative patient on the first ... (Read 41 times)

khang · **on:** Jul 23, 2018

To promote deep breathing, coughing, and turning by a postoperative patient on the first postoperative day, the best action by the nurse would be to:

a. Teach the patient the purpose of respiratory care and ambulation
b. Provide constant reinforcement for accomplishing these activities
c. Assess the patient's pain level before these activities
d. Emphasize the complications of immobility and poor cough effort

Question 2

A patient is to have a sequential compression device (SCD) applied on the postoperative unit. The patient is wearing knee-high elastic (antiembolism) stockings. When applying the SCD, what should the nurse do?

a. Remove the antiembolism stockings and not replace them.
b. Replace the knee-high stockings with thigh-high stockings.
c. Notify the surgeon that the patient is wearing antiembolism stockings.
d. Apply the SCD over the knee-high antiembolism stockings.

brbarasa · **Reply #1 on:** Jul 23, 2018

Answer to Question 1

C
Promoting deep breathing, coughing, moving in bed, and leg exercises helps to prevent thrombophlebitis, atelectasis, and pneumonia in the postoperative period. Teaching the patient about these interventions and the complications of failing to perform them should have been completed in the preoperative period. Providing reinforcement may be helpful, but assessment of the patient's pain level is essential to provide pain relief and assure the patient's full participation in the activities.

Answer to Question 2

D
If elastic stockings have been ordered with the sequential compression device, leave them in place; if the patient is not yet wearing them, obtain them and put them on the patient. Knee-high stockings do not need to be replaced with thigh-high stockings. Some research has shown knee-high stockings to be equally effective. There is no need to notify the surgeon, as patients commonly return from surgery wearing antiembolism stockings, as prescribed.