- ambulate 100 feet with crutches or walker
- get up and down a flight of stairs
- flex the surgical knee 30 degrees
- fix a snack
The nurse is caring for a client on the orthopedic unit who had a total knee replacement on the left side. The nurse knows the client will be ready for discharge when she is able to do which of the following activities?
Number 2 is correct.
Rationale: The ability to navigate a flight of stairs is a requirement for discharge after a total knee replacement. The client needs to be able to ambulate 75 feet. There is no set amount of flexion of the knee for discharge. Preparing a snack is not a standard requirement for discharge.