A nurse is providing preoperative teaching to a client about promoting circulation during the postoperative period.

Which of the following instructions should the nurse include?

Choice A reason

Act as a spokesperson to provide information to the media in inappropriate. During a disaster, the nurse manager or designated hospital spokesperson usually handles communication with the media. The unit nurse's primary focus is on patient care and ensuring the safety and well-being of the clients on their unit.

Choice B reason

Recommending to the provider a list of clients for early discharge is the action that should be taken by the nurse. During a disaster, the responsibility of the unit nurse includes recommending to the healthcare provider a list of clients who may be considered for early discharge. This decision is based on the nurse's assessment of the clients' conditions and the need to create additional capacity for incoming patients who require urgent medical attention.

Choice C reason:

Determining the need for additional providers is inappropriate. The determination of the need for additional providers during a disaster is usually made at a higher level, such as by the nursing supervisor, nurse manager, or hospital administration. The unit nurse may collaborate with the nursing leadership to assess staffing needs and provide input, but the final decision is typically made at a higher level.

Choice D reason

Deciding which clients should be transported for a higher level of care is not the responsibility of the nurse. Decisions about transferring clients for a higher level of care during a disaster are usually made collaboratively among the healthcare team, including the healthcare providers and nursing leadership. The unit nurse may provide valuable input about the clients' conditions, but the decision is not solely the responsibility of the unit nurse.

The correct answer is choice D. Place a wedge under one of the client’s hips. This is because placing a wedge under one of the hips can help prevent compression of the inferior vena cava by the uterus, which can compromise placental blood flow and cause fetal hypoxia. Placing a wedge under the hip can also help reduce the risk of maternal hypotension, which can also affect fetal oxygenation.

Choice A is wrong because inserting a pillow under the client’s knees can increase the risk of thromboembolism, which is a potential complication of cesarean birth.

Choice B is wrong because positioning the client in reverse Trendelenburg can increase the risk of maternal aspiration, which is another potential complication of cesarean birth.

Choice C is wrong because assisting the client into the lithotomy position can also compress the inferior vena cava and reduce placental blood flow. The lithotomy position is also not necessary for cesarean birth, as the baby is delivered through an incision in the abdomen and uterus.