The nurse is caring for a client who has incisional pain, a poor cough effort, and scattered rhonchi after a thoracotomy. Which of the following actions should the nurse take first?
A)Assist the client to sit up at the bedside.
B)Splint the client's chest during coughing.
C)Medicate the client with the prescribed morphine.
D)Have the client use the prescribed incentive spirometer.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

A major reason for atelectasis and poor airway clearance in clients after chest surgery is incisional pain (which increases with deep breathing and coughing). The first action by the nurse should be to medicate the client to minimize incisional pain. The other actions are all appropriate ways to improve airway clearance but should be done after the morphine is given.

The Nurse Is Caring for a Client Who Has Incisional