Certified Ambulatory Perianesthesia Nurse (CAPA) Practice Exam

Disable ads (and more) with a membership for a one time $2.99 payment

Study for the CAPA Test with our interactive questions and explanations. Prepare confidently for your certification exam!

Each practice test/flash card set has 50 randomly selected questions from a bank of over 500. You'll get a new set of questions each time!

Practice this question and more.

The discharge plan for a morbidly obese patient after ventral hernia repair should include which instruction?

Having an oversized commode delivered 2 days postoperatively
Encouraging the patient to sleep in semi-Fowler's position
Telling the patient to avoid showers for 10 days
Telling the patient not to use a binder if it is uncomfortable

The correct answer is: Encouraging the patient to sleep in semi-Fowler's position

Encouraging the patient to sleep in semi-Fowler's position is key for several reasons, especially after a ventral hernia repair in a morbidly obese patient. This position can help reduce abdominal pressure and facilitate better respiratory function by allowing for improved diaphragm movement and lung expansion. Since these patients have increased risks for respiratory complications and may experience discomfort due to their body weight, positioning them in semi-Fowler's can assist in alleviating these issues. Additionally, maintaining a slightly elevated position can promote venous return and decrease the risk of complications such as deep vein thrombosis (DVT). It also supports healing by minimizing strain on the abdominal wall and surgical site, which is crucial in the early postoperative period when the risk of dehiscence or complications is heightened. The other options, while they may have some merit, do not address the immediate post-operative need for positioning to aid in recovery and comfort as effectively as sleeping in semi-Fowler's position does.