A nurse is caring for a client who is 24 hr postoperative following a total hip arthroplasty. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?

Rationale: A. Place the affected leg in external rotation: External rotation of the leg can increase the risk of hip dislocation following a total hip arthroplasty. The leg should be maintained in a neutral or slightly abducted position to protect the joint. B. Encourage the client to use the incentive spirometer every shift: Incentive spirometry should be used every 1 to 2 hours while awake to prevent postoperative complications like atelectasis. Using it only once per shift is not sufficient. C. Instruct the client to lean forward when rising from a chair: Leaning forward while rising increases hip flexion beyond 90 degrees, which places stress on the hip joint and raises the risk of dislocation. Clients should keep their hips higher than their knees and use armrests for support. D. Maintain abduction of the affected extremity: Keeping the leg in abduction helps prevent dislocation of the prosthetic joint by maintaining proper alignment. This can be achieved using an abduction pillow or wedge between the legs.