Final answer:
The best nursing action to prevent pulmonary complications after a subtotal gastrectomy is encouraging deep breathing and coughing exercises, as they facilitate lung expansion and secretion clearance to prevent atelectasis and pneumonia.
Step-by-step explanation:
The best nursing action to prevent pulmonary complications after a subtotal gastrectomy is to encourage deep breathing and coughing exercises. This is because such exercises help keep the lungs clear by facilitating the expansion of the alveoli and the clearance of secretions, which can help in preventing atelectasis and pneumonia often associated with postoperative patients.
Administering pain medication is also important, as it allows the patient to perform deep breathing and coughing exercises with less discomfort. However, it is not the primary action for preventing pulmonary complications. Limiting fluid intake does not directly prevent pulmonary issues and should be evaluated based on the patient's individual needs. Regular administration of antiemetic medications can help manage nausea and prevent vomiting, which is important but second to respiratory exercises in terms of preventing pulmonary complications.