Question

If a post-operative patient complains of gas and cramping you should first _______ then ________.

a) Encourage walking, administer pain medication
b) Administer pain medication, encourage walking
c) Administer antacid, encourage deep breathing
d) Encourage deep breathing, administer antacid

Answer 1

When a post-operative patient complains of gas and cramping, the first step should be to encourage walking to increase peristalsis and then administer pain medication for pain relief not alleviated by walking.

Step-by-step explanation:

If a post-operative patient complains of gas and cramping, you should first encourage walking, then administer pain medication. This approach helps in multiple ways. Encouraging the patient to walk increases peristalsis, which is the movement of the intestines that helps to relieve gas. Additionally, walking can improve overall circulation, which is beneficial for recovery. Administering pain medication after walking can help manage any discomfort that might not have been alleviated by walking. This two-step approach is commonly recommended to help manage post-operative gas and cramping.