Which nursing action is recommended to promote comfort for a post-operative patient?

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: Providing regular pain assessment and management is key to promoting comfort in post-operative patients, as pain is a common barrier to recovery. Effective pain control improves mobility, sleep, and overall well-being, enabling faster healing. A very cold room might cause discomfort or shivering, countering recovery efforts. Limiting pain medication delays progress, as uncontrolled pain hinders ambulation and increases stress. Elevating the head of the bed helps with breathing or aspiration prevention but isn't the primary comfort measure pain management addresses a broader need. Regular assessments ensure interventions are timely and tailored, reflecting nursing's commitment to patient-centered care.

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: Supporting the abdomen with a folded towel or hands helps a bedridden patient cough effectively by stabilizing surgical sites or weak muscles, reducing pain, and boosting force to clear airways. This is vital for preventing pneumonia in immobile patients. A pillow to hug might comfort but doesn't aid cough mechanics. Discouraging coughing risks mucus buildup, worsening respiratory health. Ice water might soothe but doesn't enhance coughing. Nurses use this support to facilitate airway clearance, combining physical assistance with encouragement for optimal respiratory function.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: Offering thin liquids facilitates swallowing for dysphagia patients by reducing the effort needed to move fluid through the throat, though thickness may vary per assessment (e.g., thickened liquids for some). Large portions overwhelm, increasing choking risk. Variety stimulates taste but doesn't address swallowing mechanics. Rapid eating heightens aspiration danger, fatiguing the patient further. Nurses tailor fluid consistency and pace to the patient's swallow ability, often collaborating with speech therapists, ensuring safe nutrition and hydration critical for this condition.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: Using therapeutic communication and active listening promotes comfort in an anxious patient by validating their feelings, reducing isolation, and building trust through empathetic dialogue. Leaving them alone may worsen anxiety, signaling abandonment. Avoiding eye contact disconnects, heightening distress. Suggesting no deep breathing dismisses a proven calming technique nurses often encourage it. This approach, involving open-ended questions and reassurance, addresses emotional needs, helping patients cope, a vital nursing skill in holistic care beyond physical interventions.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: Engaging the patient in discussions about cultural practices allows the nurse to tailor hygiene care e.g., hair washing or modesty to their beliefs, maintaining dignity and compliance. Discouraging practices alienates, reducing trust. Disregarding preferences risks offense and discomfort. Avoiding care entirely neglects health needs, not respect. Nurses ask questions, adapt techniques (like using a headscarf), and ensure hygiene aligns with values, blending clinical necessity with cultural sensitivity for effective, respectful care.