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Difficulty: MediumBasic Care and Comfort

A surgical client is transferred to the acute care unit after undergoing a left eye cataract removal. To ensure safety and promote optimal healing, which intervention should the nurse implement?

  1. A
    Turn the client onto the surgical side to encourage gravity drainage of ocular fluids.
  2. Position the client on the nonoperative side with the upper body slightly raised.Answer
  3. C
    Advise the client to flex at the waist when retrieving objects from the floor.
  4. D
    Direct the patient care technician to evaluate the client's comfort level after position changes.

Answer

Position the client on the nonoperative side with the upper body slightly raised.
After cataract surgery, it is essential to prevent increases in intraocular pressure (IOP). Positioning the client on the nonoperative side or supine with the upper body slightly raised promotes venous return, decreases orbital edema, and protects the surgical site from direct pressure.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the surgical procedure and its physiological implications.
The client had a left cataract extraction, which requires avoiding any increase in intraocular pressure (IOP).
Increased IOP can cause bleeding, stress on the suture line, and permanent eye damage.
2
Evaluate each intervention for its effect on intraocular pressure and general post-operative safety.
Sleeping on the operative side or bending at the waist increases IOP. Delegating evaluation is outside UAP scope.
Safe positioning minimizes pressure on the affected eye, and the RN must perform all clinical assessments.
3
Select the intervention that best promotes comfort without compromising the surgical site.
Positioning the client on the nonoperative side (right side) or supine with the head elevated is the correct action.
This position uses gravity to reduce edema and prevents direct physical pressure on the left eye.

Key Concept

Postoperative Positioning for Eye Surgery
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Topics

Basic Care and Comfort

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