Question

The nurse is assessing a patient after surgery, and the patient is reluctant to perform exercises due to incisional pain. Which nursing interventions are appropriate?

A. Encourage the patient to continue with exercises to prevent complications.
B. Administer additional pain medication before exercise sessions.
C. Postpone exercises until the pain subsides completely.
D. Discontinue all exercises to avoid exacerbating pain.

Answer 1

The nurse should administer additional pain medication, encourage the patient to continue with exercises, and modify the exercises based on pain levels.

Step-by-step explanation:

When assessing a patient after surgery, it is important to consider their pain levels and tailor nursing interventions accordingly. In this case, the patient is reluctant to perform exercises due to incisional pain. The appropriate nursing interventions would be:

1. Administer additional pain medication before exercise sessions: By providing additional pain medication before exercise sessions, the nurse can help alleviate the patient's pain and make it more manageable for them to perform the exercises.
2. Encourage the patient to continue with exercises to prevent complications: Despite the pain, it is important for the patient to continue with exercises as prescribed by the healthcare team. Exercises help prevent complications such as blood clots and promote healing.
3. Modify exercises based on pain levels: Instead of discontinuing exercises altogether, the nurse can modify the exercises to make them more tolerable for the patient. This could involve reducing the intensity or duration of the exercises.

By implementing these nursing interventions, the nurse can provide appropriate care and support to the patient, ensuring their well-being and promoting a smooth recovery.