A nurse is caring for a client who is 2 days postoperative following an above-the-knee amputation. Which of the following actions should the nurse take to promote progression toward independence and mobility for the client?

A. Encourage the client to use the overbed trapeze. Using an overbed trapeze helps the client build upper body strength, which is essential for mobility and independence following an amputation. Strengthening the arms and shoulders facilitates bed mobility, transfers, and eventual prosthetic use. B. Keep a loose, absorbent dressing over the client's surgical site. The surgical site should be covered with a secure, sterile dressing to promote healing and prevent infection. Loose dressings can shift, increasing the risk of contamination and delayed wound healing. C. Maintain abduction of the client's residual limb with a pillow. Prolonged abduction is not recommended, as it can lead to hip contractures. The limb should be kept in a neutral or slightly extended position to maintain proper alignment and prevent muscle shortening that could interfere with prosthetic use. D. Caution the client to avoid a prone position while in bed. Prone positioning is actually encouraged intermittently to help stretch the hip flexors and prevent contractures. Avoiding this position may increase the risk of hip flexion contractures, making prosthetic fitting and ambulation more difficult.