What would be appropriate for the nurse to do when assessing a patient's motor function?
1. Assess all four extremities together.
2. Assess the right leg and the right arm together.
3. Assess the arms together and then assess the legs separately.
4. Assess the left leg and the left arm together.
3
Rationale 1: Assessing all extremities together would not enable the nurse to compare strength and movement of both sides of the body.
Rationale 2: The legs are usually assessed separately.
Rationale 3: Although the nurse can assess the arms simultaneously, the legs are usually assessed separately. It is important that the nurse assesses the movement in all four of the extremities and compare the strength of movement on both sides of the body.
Rationale 4: The legs are usually assessed separately.
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