What is the most important nursing intervention for a patient who has impaired physical mobility related to incisional pain?

• A. Reposition the patient at least once every 90 minutes.
• B. Apply a dressing to the area to support moist wound healing.
• C. Apply a moisture barrier to the incisional area at least three times daily.
• D. Pack open areas of the wound with gauze moistened with antibiotic solution

Answer: (A)

If a patient has impaired physical mobility from incisional pain, the top priority for protecting tissue integrity is regularly repositioning to relieve pressure. Pressures over bony prominences restrict blood flow, so turning the patient at appropriate intervals (to redistribute pressure) maintains tissue perfusion, reduces the risk of pressure ulcers, and supports overall healing of the incision. Pain control is important, but without frequent repositioning, skin breakdown can still occur.

Wound dressing and barrier applications are important for skin care, but they don’t address the fundamental risk created by prolonged pressure from immobility. Packing an open wound with antibiotic-moistened gauze isn’t appropriate for a typical closed incision and doesn’t tackle the mobility-related risk to skin integrity.