A nurse is caring for a 50-year-old client who had abdominal surgery. Which must the nurse ensure specifically to prevent the occurrence of atelectasis in this client?
A) Ask the client not to walk about immediately after the surgery.
B) Place an abdominal binder firmly over the incision and lower chest.
C) Ensure that the incision area is supported and splinted with a pillow when taking a deep breath.
D) Avoid administering analgesics to the client to prevent complications.
C
Feedback:
The incision area is supported and splinted with a pillow or blanket to help in relieving some pain and discomfort that the client may be experiencing when taking a deep breath or coughing. Atelectasis develops because of the client's reluctance to cough or breathe deeply because of the incision pain. The client should be asked to walk as soon as possible after surgery to prevent postoperative respiratory and circulatory complications. The nurse should use a pillow, folded bath blanket, or large towel as a splint to distribute pressure evenly across an incision. Analgesics should be provided about half an hour before performing the deep-breathing and coughing exercises to maximize pain relief.
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