A male client 30 years of age is postoperative day 2 following a nephrectomy (kidney removal) but has not yet mobilized or dangled at the bedside. Which of the following is the nurse's best intervention in this client's care?

Question

A) Educate the client about the benefits of early mobilization and offer to assist him.
B) Respect the client's wishes to remain in his bed and ask him when he would like to begin mobilizing.
C) Show the client the expected outcomes on his clinical pathway that relate to mobilization.
D) Document the client's noncompliance and reiterate the consequences of delaying mobilization.

Answer 1

Ans: A

Educating the client about the benefits of mobilizing, and offering to assist combines teaching with the promotion of self-care. It is likely premature to label the client as noncompliant, and showing him the expected outcomes on his clinical pathway is unlikely to motivate him if he is reluctant. It is appropriate for the nurse to educate and encourage the client rather than simply accepting his refusal and providing no other interventions.