A patient has been hospitalized for 5 days after pancreatic surgery. The nurse is preparing the patient to ambulate for the first time. What is the best action for the nurse to perform to prevent the patient from suffering orthostatic hypotension?
a. Have him sit up in bed for a few minutes before standing.
b. Have him sit up with his legs dangling over the side of his bed for a few minutes before standing.
c. Place him in a high-Fowler's position for a few minutes before standing.
d. Place him in a low-Fowler's position for a few minutes before standing.
B
When preparing a patient for ambulation, dangling is an important technique. You assist the pa-tient to a sitting position with the legs dangling off the side of the bed and have the patient rest for 1 to 2 minutes before standing. When the patient has been flat for extended periods, blood pressure drops when the patient stands. Dangling helps to prevent this. Sitting up in bed or plac-ing the patient in high- or low-Fowler's position does not allow for the changes in circulation to occur before ambulation.
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