A patient has just returned to the surgical floor after undergoing a retinal detachment repair. The postoperative orders specify that the patient should be kept in a prone position until otherwise ordered. What should the nurse do?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

For pneumatic retinopexy, postoperative positioning of the patient is critical because the injected bubble must float into a position overlying the area of detachment, providing consistent pressure to reattach the sensory retina. The patient must maintain a prone position that would allow the gas bubble to act as a tamponade for the retinal break. Patients and family members should be made aware of these special needs beforehand so that the patient can be made as comfortable as possible. It would be inappropriate to deviate from this order and there is no obvious need to confirm the order.

A Patient Has Just Returned to the Surgical Floor After