A patient who has had surgery this morning for cataracts is now going home. What should the nurse include when providing discharge instructions? (Select all that apply.)

a) "I expect to have moderately severe pain for 1-2 days." Pain after cataract surgery is usually mild to moderate and typically improves significantly within a few hours to a day. Severe pain should be reported to the healthcare provider.
b) "I will take a stool softener until my eye is healed." This statement reflects appropriate teaching, as stool softeners are commonly used after eye surgery to avoid straining during bowel movements, which could increase intraocular pressure.
c) "I will refrain from cooking for 1 week." There is usually no need to refrain from activities like cooking unless the patient experiences significant discomfort or difficulty. Resting and avoiding strenuous activities are more common recommendations.
d) "I will bend at the waist to tie my shoes." Bending at the waist can increase intraocular pressure, which is contraindicated after cataract surgery. The client should be instructed to bend at the knees instead.

a) Move his or her finger slowly toward the patient's nose: This is an appropriate action for testing accommodation, as it assesses the ability of the eyes to converge and maintain focus on the object as it moves closer.
b) Checking for a nystagmus: This is not directly related to accommodation, though nystagmus can be observed in other assessments for visual and neurological conditions.
c) Assess for convergence: Convergence is part of the accommodation process. It involves the eyes turning inward to focus on a near object.
d) Observe for pupillary constriction: Pupillary constriction is a key part of the accommodation response when focusing on a near object.
e) Note blinking: This is not necessary for assessing accommodation. Blinking can occur for various reasons but is not a direct sign of accommodation.
f) Hold his or her finger approximately 20 inches in front of the patient's eyes: For accommodation testing, the object should be moved closer, typically within 6-8 inches from the eyes.