A nurse on a mental health unit is caring for a client who is in restraints. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?

1. Release the client's restraints every 4 hr.
2. Check the client's status every hour.
3. Document the client's behavior leading to the initiation of the restraints.

Obtain written consent by the client for the placement of the restraints.

Splinting the incision with a pillow when changing positions can provide support and help minimize discomfort and pain in clients who have undergone a cesarean birth. It can help reduce strain on the incision site and provide a sense of stability and comfort.

"You can apply counterpressure to your back with each position change" may be helpful for managing back pain, but it does not specifically address the client's request for nonpharmacological interventions to manage pain when changing positions after a cesarean birth.

"You should change positions as little as possible" is not an appropriate response as it does not address the client's need to manage pain when changing positions. Encouraging movement and position changes, along with appropriate support, can aid in recovery and prevent complications such as blood clots and respiratory issues.

"You should use patterned-paced breathing when changing positions" is not specifically related to managing pain when changing positions after a cesarean birth. While breathing techniques can be useful for pain management during labor and certain procedures, it may not be the most effective strategy for managing pain when changing positions post-cesarean.

Adequate fluid intake helps to soften the stool, prevent constipation, and ease bowel movements. It can also help with bladder function and prevent urinary tract infections. This intervention is particularly relevant given the client's complaint of abdominal cramping and a small, hard, painful bowel movement.

The other options are not appropriate based on the information provided:

• "Encourage prolonged dangling before ambulation" is not necessary or relevant in this case. The client is already transferring out of bed to a chair independently and ambulating independently in the hallway, indicating sufficient mobility.
• "Irrigate indwelling catheter with 500 mL of fluid" is not indicated based on the provided information. The urinary catheter is intact, and the client is producing an appropriate amount of urine. There is no indication of urinary retention or need for irrigation.
• "Administer an enema" is not necessary at this point. The client has reported a small, hard, painful bowel movement, which indicates constipation. However, conservative measures such as encouraging oral fluid intake and possibly adding dietary fiber should be tried first before considering an enema.
• "Assist the client with a sitz bath" is not directly related to the client's current symptoms. A sitz bath is typically used for perineal hygiene, pain relief, or healing after certain surgical procedures, but it does not address the reported abdominal cramping or constipation.