Question

A nurse is assisting in developing a plan of care for a child who will be returning from the operating room following a tonsillectomy. The nurse plans to place the child in which position on return from the operating room?

a) Supine
b) Side-lying
c) Trendelenburg
d) High Fowler's

Answer 1

After a tonsillectomy, placing the child in a side-lying (option b) position is recommended to facilitate drainage and prevent aspiration of blood or secretions.

Step-by-step explanation:

The side-lying position is typically recommended for a child returning from the operating room following a tonsillectomy. This position helps to facilitate drainage and can prevent the child from aspirating any blood or secretions that may accumulate in the mouth or throat post-operatively, which is crucial for patient safety. Other positions like supine, Trendelenburg, or High Fowler's are generally not preferred in the immediate post-operative period for a patient recovering from a tonsillectomy.