The nurse is caring for a postoperative patient on his first day after surgery. The nurse informs the patient that the plan is to sit in the chair and ambulate in the hallway. The patient states that he is in pain and has no intention of getting out of bed. What is the nurse's best response?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The nurse should teach the patient why it is important to ambulate after surgery. Early ambulation helps to prevent many complications postoperatively, including constipation, deep vein thrombosis, atelectasis, pneumonia, and urinary stasis. Many patients who experience abdominal distention and gas pain obtain some relief from ambulating. Simply telling the patient that the physician ordered ambulation is not sufficient. Allowing the patient to stay in bed will increase the risk of DVT.

The Nurse Is Caring for a Postoperative Patient on His