A nurse is caring for a client who is 4 hr postoperative following a total hip arthroplasty. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?

A. Prolonged strict bed rest is not recommended after total hip arthroplasty. Early mobilization, as tolerated, is encouraged to prevent complications such as deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and promote circulation. B. Incentive spirometry is important for preventing postoperative pulmonary complications. However, standard practice is to encourage use every 1–2 hours while awake, not every 4 hours. While not harmful, the interval in this option is too long to be considered correct for optimal lung expansion. C. Topical antibiotics are not routinely applied to postoperative incisions. Surgical site infection prevention relies on sterile dressing changes and systemic prophylactic antibiotics as prescribed, not routine topical application. D. After a total hip arthroplasty, placing a pillow between the legs helps maintain proper hip alignment and prevents adduction, which could place stress on the new joint and increase the risk of hip dislocation. This is an essential component of postoperative hip precautions.