A nurse is assisting with the care of a client who is 6 hr postoperative following a right total knee arthroplasty. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?

A nurse assisting with the care of a client who is 6 hours postoperative following a right total knee arthroplasty should check the client's pedal pulses every hour. This is important to assess the adequacy of blood flow and tissue perfusion to the extremity. It is also important to monitor the client's pain level, administer pain medication as ordered, and encourage the client to perform exercises as appropriate. The head of the client's bed should be maintained in a semi-Fowler's position to promote optimal respiratory function, and the client's dressing should be changed only as needed and with sterile technique. An abductor wedge is not typically used following knee arthroplasty surgery.