Which of the following is a recommended nursing implementation before surgery?

Deep breathing exercises are an important nursing implementation before a surgical procedure because they play a crucial role in preparing the patient both physically and psychologically. These exercises help enhance lung capacity, improve oxygenation, and prevent postoperative complications such as atelectasis (collapse of the lung) and pneumonia. When patients engage in deep breathing, it promotes better ventilation and aids in the mobilization of secretions, which can be particularly beneficial following surgery when patients may have reduced mobility or discomfort.

In contrast, administering anesthesia and performing surgery are actions that are not within the nurse's scope before surgery and are instead the responsibility of the anesthesiology and surgical teams. Starting IV fluids can be an important preoperative step, but it is generally not specific to the nurses’ preparatory role in advocating for deep breathing exercises and other preoperative education and comfort measures. Thus, recommending deep breathing exercises aligns with the goals of preoperative care to optimize the patient’s condition for surgery.