The nurse's comprehensive assessment of an older adult involves the assessment of the patient's gait. How should the nurse best perform this assessment?
A) Instruct the patient to walk heel-to-toe for 15 to 20 steps.
B) Instruct the patient to walk in a straight line while not looking at the floor.
C) Instruct the patient to walk away from the nurse for a short distance and then toward the nurse.
D) Instruct the patient to balance on one foot for as long as possible and then walk in a circle around the room.
Ans: C
Feedback:
Gait is assessed by having the patient walk away from the examiner for a short distance. The examiner observes the patient's gait for smoothness and rhythm. Looking at the floor is not disallowed and gait is not assessed by observing balance on one leg. Heel-to-toe walking ability is not gauged during an assessment of normal gait.
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