A nurse is reinforcing preoperative teaching about breathing exercises with a client. Which of the following instructions should the nurse include? (Select all that apply.) A. Make the chest and shoulders move when inhaling. B. Exhale through pursed lips. C. Perform deep breathing every 2 hr around the clock. D. Sit in an upright position before beginning coughing exercises. E. Take a deep breath between each attempt to cough.
Answer (2)
The nurse should include instructions B, C, D, and E regarding breathing exercises and exclude option A. These practices help improve lung function and prevent complications after surgery. Proper techniques such as pursed lip breathing and maintaining an upright position during exercises enhance recovery.
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When a nurse is reinforcing preoperative teaching about breathing exercises with a client, it is important to focus on techniques that help prevent postoperative complications, such as pneumonia and atelectasis (collapse of part of the lung). Breathing exercises are critical, especially after surgeries that involve the chest or abdomen. Here are the specific instructions that the nurse should include:
Exhale through pursed lips.
Pursed-lip breathing helps to control the rate of exhalation, keeps the airways open longer, increases the amount of time air remains in the lungs, and can help improve gaseous exchange. This technique can enhance breathing efficiency and reduce the work of breathing.
Perform deep breathing every 2 hours around the clock.
Deep breathing exercises prevent complications by helping clear secretions from the airways and maintaining lung expansion. Regularly performing these exercises helps to ensure that the lungs are exercised effectively.
Sit in an upright position before beginning coughing exercises.
An upright position maximizes lung expansion and makes it easier to take deep breaths, enabling more effective coughing. Sitting up helps the diaphragm work more efficiently and encourages better air exchange.
Take a deep breath between each attempt to cough.
Taking deep breaths between coughing attempts helps maximize lung volume and prevents fatigue during multiple attempts. Deep breaths help in mobilizing and clearing lung secretions.
It is important to note that in proper breathing exercises, the emphasis should not be on making the chest and shoulders move during inhalation, as seen in option A, because this may indicate shallow breathing rather than deep diaphragmatic breathing, which is more effective for lung expansion.
