A nurse is caring for a client who is postoperative immediately following a cardiac catheterization with a right femoral approach. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?
Explanation & Rationale
A. Elevate the head of the client's bed to 45°: After a femoral cardiac catheterization, the client should remain supine with the affected leg straight to prevent bleeding or hematoma formation. Elevating the head too much can increase the risk of vascular complications. B. Change the client's dressing 4 hr following the procedure: The initial dressing should remain intact for the time specified by the provider, usually 24 hours, unless it becomes soiled or saturated. Early dressing changes can disrupt the insertion site and increase bleeding risk. C. Assess the client's peripheral pulses every 15 min: Frequent assessment of peripheral pulses in the affected extremity is essential to detect early signs of compromised circulation, hematoma, or arterial occlusion following femoral access. Monitoring every 15 minutes immediately post-procedure aligns with best practice. D. Instruct the client to flex the right knee every 30 min: Clients are instructed to keep the affected leg straight to prevent disruption of the femoral access site and minimize bleeding. Flexing the knee increases the risk of hematoma formation and vascular injury.