To promote deep breathing, coughing, and turning by a postoperative patient on the first postoperative day, the best action by the nurse would be to:
a. Teach the patient the purpose of respiratory care and ambulation
b. Provide constant reinforcement for accomplishing these activities
c. Assess the patient's pain level before these activities
d. Emphasize the complications of immobility and poor cough effort
C
Promoting deep breathing, coughing, moving in bed, and leg exercises helps to prevent thrombophlebitis, atelectasis, and pneumonia in the postoperative period. Teaching the patient about these interventions and the complications of failing to perform them should have been completed in the preoperative period. Providing reinforcement may be helpful, but assessment of the patient's pain level is essential to provide pain relief and assure the patient's full participation in the activities.
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