A nurse is caring for a client who is 2 days postoperative following an above-the-knee amputation. Which is an appropriate nursing intervention for the client at this time?

A. Elevate the foot of the bed: Elevating the foot of the bed may place the residual limb in a flexed position, increasing the risk of hip contractures. This is not recommended in the immediate postoperative period following an above-the-knee amputation. B. Have the client lie prone several times a day: Lying prone helps stretch the hip flexor muscles, reducing the risk of hip flexion contractures, which are common after above-the-knee amputations. Encouraging prone positioning several times daily supports proper joint alignment and long-term mobility. C. Elevate the residual limb on a pillow: Elevating the residual limb on a pillow for prolonged periods can cause hip flexion and promote contracture formation. Short-term elevation for edema control is acceptable, but routine pillow elevation is avoided in the first few days. D. Encourage the patient to sit up as much as possible: Extended sitting in the early postoperative period can increase hip flexion and contribute to contracture formation. While gradual mobilization is important, prolonged sitting should be limited until the risk of contractures is minimized.