Question

Which nursing intervention is considered an independent intervention?

1)Administering 1 L of dextrose 5% in normal saline solution at 100 mL/hour

2)Encouraging the postoperative client to perform coughing and deep breathing exercises

3)Explaining his diet to the client; then communicating the teaching with the dietitian

4)Administering morphine sulfate 2 mg IV to the client with postoperative pain

Answer 1

The independent nursing intervention among the options given is encouraging the postoperative client to perform coughing and deep breathing exercises. This does not require a doctor's order and helps prevent respiratory complications.

Step-by-step explanation:

An independent nursing intervention is an action that registered nurses are licensed to initiate based on their sound judgement and skills. Among the options provided, the intervention that is considered an independent one is:

2) Encouraging the postoperative client to perform coughing and deep breathing exercises.

This is an example of a nursing intervention that does not require a physician's order and is implemented to prevent respiratory complications like pneumonia. In contrast, administering medications and IV fluids typically requires a doctor's order, thus they are considered dependent interventions. It is essential for nurses to understand when to perform independent interventions to promote recovery and ensure patient safety.

In the case of isotonic solutions like normal saline and lactated Ringer's solution, their usage in correcting dehydration is important because they have the same osmolarity as body fluids. This allows for the safe and effective administration of fluids without causing imbalances in cell size due to osmotic pressure changes.