The nurse is caring for an elderly patient recovering from gall bladder surgery. Which of the following interventions would help reduce the onset of functional decline for this patient?
1. bedrest until strength returns
2. out of bed to a chair for most of the day
3. early return to ambulation and self-care activities
4. use of restraints to ensure all intravenous lines and drainage tubes are not disturbed which would hinder the patient's recovery
3
Rationale: Immobility and bedrest in the elderly patient can contribute to a cascade of dependence. For each day of immobility, 5% of muscle strength is lost. The best intervention for this patient would be an early return to ambulation and self-care activities to limit the loss of muscle strength. The patient should not be kept on bedrest. This would encourage further disability. Having the patient sit out of bed in a chair is not enough activity to limit disability. The use of restrains will add to the patient developing functional decline and should be avoided.
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