Question

A patient donated a kidney via a laparoscopic donor nephrectomy to a nonrelated recipient. The patient is experiencing a lot of pain and refuses to get up to walk. How should the nurse handle this situation?

A. Have the transplant psychologist convince the patient to walk.
B. Encourage even a short walk to avoid complications of surgery.
C. Tell the patient that no other patients have ever refused to walk.
D. Tell the patient that he or she is lucky it was not necessary to have an open nephrectomy.

Answer 1

The nurse should encourage the patient to take even a short walk to avoid complications post-surgery. Walking helps prevent acute kidney injury and other postoperative complications, and while pain management is important, it is also crucial to promote early mobilization.

Step-by-step explanation:

In response to the question of how a nurse should handle a situation where a patient who has donated a kidney and is experiencing a lot of pain refuses to get up to walk, the most professional approach is option B: Encourage even a short walk to avoid complications of surgery. It is important that the surgical team, including the surgeon, nurse, and anesthesia professional, discuss the key concerns for the recovery and care of the patient, stressing the importance of early mobilization. Walking post-surgery helps reduce the risk of complications such as acute kidney injury, thromboembolic events, and pulmonary issues, which are critical factors considering that 7-10 percent of hospitalized patients suffer from acute kidney injury with a high mortality rate. While pain management is essential, and the patient should be provided with adequate pain medication, encouragement and support to ambulate as tolerated should be part of the postoperative care plan.