Which is the best method of assessing a client's ability to ambulate?
1. Interview client's visitors.
2. Observe client ambulating.
3. Review client progress notes.
4. Measure distances ambulated.
2
2. The best method of assessing a client's ability to ambulate is to observe the client during ambulation, gather data, draw conclusions, and document the data and con-clusions. This method provides the nurse with objective data on which to base the plan of care and fulfills the nurse's duty to the client by taking responsibility for as-sessment; the nurse breaches the duty owed to the client if actions are based on another person's assessment.
1. Even if the client's visitors are health care professionals, the nurse must assess the client before taking action.
3. Reviewing progress notes provides valuable baseline data for comparison to the nurse's assessment; however, the nurse assesses the client to determine the nurse's future care.
4. Measuring the distance covered by the client is valuable information and is one part of the data the nurse gathers for the nursing assessment.
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