What should a respiratory therapist initiate as soon as a patient is stable?

Ambulation therapy is a crucial aspect of patient recovery, particularly in respiratory care, as it helps improve lung function, promotes mobility, and enhances overall physical conditioning. Initiating ambulation therapy once a patient is stable supports respiratory function by encouraging deeper breathing, which can help in preventing complications such as atelectasis and pneumonia. Exercise and mobility are essential components of care that aid in the healing process and boost the patient's morale and independence.

While other choices, such as detailed patient record reviews, diagnostic imaging, and patient discharge planning, are important in the overall management of the patient, they do not provide immediate physical benefits to the patient's respiratory status in the way that ambulation does. Detailed record reviews might take time and are more retrospective, diagnostic imaging usually follows if there are specific concerns identified, and discharge planning typically occurs later in the care process after a patient has shown significant stabilization. Therefore, initiating ambulation therapy fits best as a proactive and immediate action in the context of respiratory care once the patient is stable.