Final answer:
The primary interventions for a patient with impaired gas exchange post-thoracic surgery are assessing dressings and incisions, monitoring temperature, encouraging deep breathing and coughing, repositioning the client, and pain management.
Step-by-step explanation:
For a patient who is 2 days postop from ICU for thoracic surgery with a care plan reading: Impaired Gas Exchange r/t decreased lung expansion, impaired lung function, and surgical procedure, the following interventions are of primary importance:
- Assess the client's dressings and incisions for increased drainage to monitor for signs of infection or complications from the surgery.
- Monitor client's temperature at least every 4 hours to early detect signs of infection, which can further impair gas exchange.
- Encourage the client to deep breathe and cough at least every 2 hours to maintain clear airways and enhance lung expansion, thus improving gas exchange.
- Reposition the client with the head elevated 30-40 degrees to facilitate easier breathing and promote lung expansion.
- 30 minutes after giving pain meds ask client to rate pain on a scale of 1-10 to ensure effective pain management, as unrelieved pain can impair the patient's ability to participate in respiratory therapies such as deep breathing and coughing.