Certified Post Anesthesia Nurse (CPAN) Practice Exam 2025 - Free CPAN Practice Questions and Study Guide

Encouraging the use of incentive spirometry is a vital intervention for preventing atelectasis in post-anesthesia patients because it promotes deep breathing and helps expand the lungs. After surgery, patients are often less mobile and may have decreased lung volumes due to anesthesia and the effects of pain. This decreased ventilation can lead to the collapse of alveoli, resulting in atelectasis.

Incentive spirometry encourages patients to take deep breaths by providing visual feedback and goals, which enhances lung expansion and facilitates the clearance of secretions. This intervention not only helps in maintaining functional residual capacity but also encourages effective coughing, which further assists in clearing the airways.

While other options may support patient recovery or improve oxygenation, they do not directly target the prevention of atelectasis to the same extent as incentive spirometry does. For instance, administering pain relief can enhance comfort, potentially leading to better participation in deep breathing but does not actively engage the lungs in the same way. Encouraging frequent ambulation is beneficial for overall recovery and can help prevent complications but is secondary to the specific role of incentive spirometry in preventing lung collapse. Providing continuous oxygen therapy may assist with oxygenation but does not actively promote lung expansion or prevent the collapse of alveoli.