NCLEX RN Exam Preview Answers Related

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A 51-year-old woman had an incisional cholecystectomy 6 hours ago. The nurse will place the highest priority on assisting the patient to

  • A. choose low-fat foods from the menu
  • B. perform leg exercises hourly while awake
  • C. ambulate the evening of the operative day
  • D. turn, cough, and deep breathe every 2 hours
Correct Answer: D

Rationale: Postoperative nursing care after a cholecystectomy focuses on preventing respiratory complications due to the surgical incision being high in the abdomen, which impairs coughing and deep breathing. Turning, coughing, and deep breathing every 2 hours help prevent respiratory complications, such as pneumonia. While choices A, B, and C are also important aspects of postoperative care, they are not as high a priority as ensuring proper ventilation and respiratory function in the immediate postoperative period.