A client newly returned to the unit after knee surgery asks the nurse for assistance to a chair. What action should the nurse implement first? A)Ask another nurse to help B)Delegate the task to unlicensed assistive personnel C)Premedicate the client for pain D)Verify the client's activity prescription

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

A client newly admitted from a surgical procedure may have activity restrictions or bed rest prescribed for a certain period. Before assisting the client to the chair, the nurse needs to verify the activity level prescribed by the health care provider. Getting the client out of bed too early could cause injury to the surgical site or result in a fall. (Option A) A client who had knee surgery will likely be unable to bear any weight on the affected limb. Depending on the client's size, it may be prudent for the nurse to get additional help. This could be requested after the activity prescription has been verified. (Option B) Assistance with ambulation is often delegated to unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP); however, the nurse should verify the prescription first. It would also be prudent to have the UAP assist the nurse as this is the client's first time up after surgery. (Option C) The nurse should assess the client's pain level before providing pain medication. Educational objective: The nurse should verify activity prescriptions before getting clients out of bed after surgery or a procedure. The nurse should be present when these clients begin ambulating and may need assistance from another nurse or unlicensed assistive personnel.

A Client Newly Returned to the Unit After Knee Surgery