Question

Paula Jones is a 65-year-old retired nurse who had an open reduction with internal fixation (ORIF) of the right hip yesterday. Vital signs remain stable within the client’s baseline. The client is receiving hydromorphone (Dilaudid) via PCA for pain. The client uses the incentive spirometer every hour as instructed. An abduction pillow is positioned between the client’s legs.

Why is it important to get this client out of bed by postoperative day one?

Answer 1

It is important to get Paula out of bed by postoperative day one because it would help Paula to improve her feelings of being independent and it would also boost her self esteem.

There are many benefits of walking or movement after surgery. Few of the benefits that Paula would have by moving are proper blood flow of oxygen throughout the body which would help in faster post operative wound healing. Since Paula is a 65 year old retired nurse, she would need to get back on her feet so that there is proper circulation of blood throughout her body and also this would prevent strokes that are caused by blood clots due to non movement of the body. The sooner Paula is able to ambulate, the sooner she could be discharged from the hospital.

If Paula does not move within 24 hours post surgery, she could develop venous stasis and deep venous thrombosis since she is an elderly person. She should be assisted to move within 24 hours to prevent problems such as UTI's, infections, blood clots, constipation and gas problems. Also prolonged bed rest could lead to Paula being immobile due to poor blood circulation and this would then lead to obesity which inturn would lead to osteoporosis since her bones would get weak due to old age.

Hence it should be a priority to get Paula to ambulate as soon as possible post surgery, preferably within a day or two. Also proper phsio-therapy excercises would help Paula get back to good health and recovery within no time.