A nurse is caring for a client who is 4 hours postoperative following a total knee arthroplasty. The client reports a pain level of 3 on a scale from 0 to 10. Which of the following nonpharmacological pain management therapies should the nurse recommend?

Choice A reason: Elevating the bed to 45° increases bleeding risk at the femoral site post-catheterization; flat positioning is preferred. Assessing pulses is priority. Elevating risks hematoma, critical to avoid in ensuring vascular safety, monitoring for complications, and supporting recovery in immediate postoperative cardiac catheterization care.

Choice B reason: Assessing peripheral pulses every 15 minutes post-femoral catheterization monitors for arterial occlusion or bleeding, critical for detecting complications like hematoma or thrombosis. This ensures timely intervention, essential for vascular integrity, preventing limb ischemia, and supporting safe recovery in the immediate postoperative period.

Choice C reason: Changing the dressing 4 hours post-catheterization is premature unless soiled; initial monitoring of pulses is priority. Assuming dressing change is urgent risks disrupting the site, increasing bleeding, critical to avoid in ensuring site stability and vascular safety in immediate post-catheterization care.

Choice D reason: Flexing the right knee is contraindicated post-femoral catheterization, risking site disruption or bleeding; leg immobility is required. Assessing pulses is key. Instructing flexion risks hematoma, critical to prevent in ensuring vascular safety, monitoring complications, and supporting recovery in postoperative cardiac catheterization clients.

Choice A reason: Holding a debriefing is post-incident, not a priority during restraint use; observing movement ensures safety. Assuming debriefing is immediate risks neglecting client monitoring, potentially causing injury, critical to avoid in ensuring safe restraint use and client well-being in acute behavioral situations.

Choice B reason: Observing range of movement during restraints ensures proper application, preventing injury like nerve damage or circulation issues, critical for client safety. This ongoing assessment adheres to restraint protocols, essential for minimizing harm, ensuring ethical care, and supporting de-escalation in aggressive clients.

Choice C reason: Maintaining sensory stimulation is inappropriate during restraints, as it may escalate agitation; observing movement is priority. Assuming stimulation is needed risks worsening aggression, potentially prolonging restraint use, critical to avoid in ensuring calm and safe management of clients in mechanical restraints.

Choice D reason: Identifying stressors is important but secondary to ensuring physical safety by observing movement during restraints. Assuming stressors are the immediate focus risks neglecting restraint safety, potentially causing injury, critical to prevent in ensuring proper monitoring and care in aggressive client situations.