Question

A nurse is assisting a client who is post-operative with the use of an incentive spirometer. Into which of the following positions should the nurse place the client?

Option 1: Supine
Option 2: Prone
Option 3: Semi-Fowler's
Option 4: Trendelenburg

Answer 1

The correct position for a client using an incentive spirometer post-operation is the semi-Fowler's position. It allows for better chest expansion and lung ventilation, aiding the effectiveness of the respiratory therapy.

Step-by-step explanation:

The student has asked about the correct position for a client who is post-operative using an incentive spirometer. In this case, the best position to place the client is the semi-Fowler's position. The semi-Fowler's position involves having the patient sit in a sitting position with the head of the bed raised to about 30 to 45 degrees. It is an ideal position for patients using an incentive spirometer because it allows for optimal chest expansion and lung ventilation, which is crucial for the respiratory therapy the spirometer provides.

Other options mentioned, such as supine (lying on the back), prone (lying face down), or Trendelenburg (where the bed is tilted with the head lower than the feet), are not as effective for post-operative respiratory exercises. The supine position, in particular, can lead to decreased lung expansion and retention of secretions, which are not conducive to the patient's recovery or the use of the spirometer.