The nurse is caring for a client who is 3 days postoperative following an emergency appendectomy

The nurse is reviewing the client's lab values and notes that the client's calcium levels have increased since before surgery. Which intervention should the nurse implement to decrease the client's possibility of developing hypercalcemia?
A) Measure vital signs every 8 hours.
B) Assist the client to ambulate around the room at least three times daily.
C) Irrigate the client's Foley catheter daily.
D) Assist the client to turn, cough, and deep breathe every 2 hours.


Answer: B

Hypercalcemia can occur from immobility. Ambulation of the client helps to prevent leaching of calcium from the bones into the serum. None of the other options is related to the development of hypercalcemia.

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