Which action is most helpful for a postoperative patient on the first day who is encouraged to ambulate, cough, deep breathe, and turn?

• A. Discuss the complications of immobility and poor cough effort.
• B. Teach the patient the purpose of respiratory care and ambulation.
• C. Administer ordered analgesic medications before these activities.
• D. Give the patient positive reinforcement for accomplishing these activities.

Answer: (C)

Pain control is essential to enable participation in early postoperative activities such as ambulation, coughing, deep breathing, and turning. Surgical pain often causes chest and abdominal splinting, leading to shallow breathing and less effective coughing, which raises the risk of atelectasis and pneumonia. By giving the ordered analgesics before these activities, pain is reduced as the patient begins, allowing deeper breaths, more effective coughing, easier turning, and safer mobilization. This pre-activity analgesia helps the respiratory exercises and early ambulation achieve their intended benefits. Of course, monitor for sedation or respiratory depression, but when used appropriately, it makes the other interventions more doable and effective.