What nursing action should be taken to minimize respiratory complications in Patrick?

To minimize respiratory complications, encouraging the client to turn, cough, and deep breathe hourly is essential. This action promotes lung expansion and ventilation, helping to keep the airways clear of secretions and preventing atelectasis, which can result from shallow breathing or immobility.

By turning, the patient improves ventilation by allowing different lung regions to expand and contract, while coughing helps to clear mucus and other secretions that could obstruct respiratory passages. Deep breathing increases lung capacity and oxygenation, which is crucial in maintaining respiratory health, particularly after surgery or during periods of limited mobility.

Other choices do not adequately promote respiratory health. Staying in bed or focusing solely on bed rest can contribute to decreased lung expansion and the risk of complications like pneumonia or blood clots. Keeping the room temperature low may not directly support respiratory function and might be uncomfortable for patients, potentially impeding their willingness to engage in breathing exercises. Thus, the most effective strategy is the hourly encouragement of turning, coughing, and deep breathing to maintain optimal respiratory function.