What is a critical action for an NP when discharging an 80-year-old patient with macular degeneration after hip surgery?

The critical action for an NP when discharging an 80-year-old patient with macular degeneration after hip surgery involves ensuring the patient understands body alignment. This is particularly important in older adults who have undergone hip surgery because improper body alignment can lead to complications such as dislocation of the hip or falls, both of which can be detrimental to recovery.

Older patients with visual impairments, like macular degeneration, often have additional challenges in maintaining awareness of their body positioning and surroundings. Therefore, providing verbal reinforcement on body alignment helps to mitigate the risk of accidents and supports safe movement post-surgery.

While scheduling follow-up appointments, discussing the medication regimen, and referring to physical therapy are indeed essential components of a comprehensive discharge plan, the immediate focus should be on ensuring the patient's understanding of how to maintain proper body alignment to promote safety, especially considering their recent surgery and visual impairment.