A nurse is caring for a client who is postoperative following total hip arthroplasty. Which of the following actions should the nurse take to prevent dislocation of the prosthesis?

Rationale: A. Raise the head of the client's bed to a high-Fowler's: Placing the client in high-Fowler’s position increases hip flexion beyond 90 degrees, which raises the risk of dislocation following a hip arthroplasty. Proper positioning involves limited hip flexion. B. Keep an abduction pillow between the client's legs: An abduction pillow maintains proper alignment by keeping the legs apart and preventing internal rotation or adduction of the hip, both of which increase the risk of dislocation after surgery. C. Elevate the client's affected leg on a pillow when in bed: Elevating the affected leg on a pillow may cause external rotation or misalignment of the hip. Unless prescribed, this practice may inadvertently increase the risk of hip dislocation. D. Position the client's knees slightly higher than the hips when up in a chair: Having the knees higher than the hips promotes hip flexion beyond 90 degrees, a common cause of prosthesis dislocation postoperatively. Proper chair height and posture help prevent this complication.