PN Adult Medical Surgical Practice Exam

What should the nurse include in the postoperative care plan for a total hip arthroplasty client?

1. Check neurovascular status on the extremity every 8 hr.

2. Have the client perform incentive spirometry every 4 hr.

3. Keep an abduction pillow between the client's legs.

4. Maintain the client on bed rest until the third postoperative day.

The correct answer is: Keep an abduction pillow between the client's legs.

Including an abduction pillow between the client's legs in the postoperative care plan for a total hip arthroplasty client is essential for several reasons. After hip surgery, maintaining the proper positioning of the legs is crucial to prevent dislocation of the new hip joint. An abduction pillow helps to keep the legs apart, thus stabilizing the hip joint and reducing the risk of complications associated with improper alignment, such as dislocation. Postoperative care for hip arthroplasty also emphasizes the importance of prevention and proper rehabilitation, and using an abduction pillow is a key strategy in achieving both. Additionally, this intervention supports circulation and nerve function in the affected limb, creating a safer recovery environment for the patient. While monitoring neurovascular status and encouraging incentive spirometry are also important aspects of postoperative care, they do not directly address the specific needs related to the positioning of the legs following hip surgery as effectively as the use of an abduction pillow. Bed rest until the third postoperative day may hinder recovery and is not an appropriate practice within the typical postoperative protocol.