Final answer:
A) Elevate leg on 2 pillows The highest priority nursing intervention for thrombophlebitis is to elevate the affected leg on 2 pillows to reduce swelling and improve blood flow.
Step-by-step explanation:
Priority Nursing Intervention for Thrombophlebitis The highest priority nursing intervention for a client who has developed thrombophlebitis of the left leg is A) Elevate leg on 2 pillows. This is critical because elevating the affected leg above the level of the heart can help reduce swelling and pain and can assist in improving blood flow. While support stockings and warm compresses may also be beneficial, these are typically subsequent measures. Complete bed rest may be advised in acute cases, but it is not the single most critical intervention and must be balanced with the risk of prolonged immobility.Recommendations for preventing thrombophlebitis often involve avoiding long periods of standing or sitting, regular leg elevation, and the use of graduated compression stockings to provide increased pressure to help the veins return blood to the heart.
The highest priority nursing intervention for a client with thrombophlebitis of the left leg is D) Maintain complete bed rest.Thrombophlebitis is the inflammation of a vein along with the formation of a blood clot. Bed rest helps reduce the risk of the clot moving to other parts of the body. Elevating the leg on 2 pillows (A) and applying warm compresses (C) may provide comfort and relieve symptoms, but they do not address the risk of clot migration. Support stockings (B) can help prevent blood pooling, but they should only be used when the client is out of bed and ambulating to maintain the therapeutic effect.