The nurse plans care for the client who receives a prescription for a leg brace and crutches. Which is the nurse's priority in the client's plan of care?

Question

1. Assist client to supine position to apply the leg brace.
2. Ask which device the client prefers and uses most often.
3. Determine client experience with leg brace and crutches.
4. Assess how the leg brace affects ambulation with crutches.

Answer 1

3
3. The most important nursing intervention is to establish baseline data on client knowledge and experience with the brace and crutches because this determines the teaching, assessments, preparation, and collaboration the nurse plans and provides. The baseline data help the nurse to identify knowledge gaps, prevent complications, and provide effective care.
1. This nurse applies the leg brace properly by positioning the client in the supine po-sition.
2. The prescription provides instruction for the use of a leg brace with crutches.
4. After fitting the client with a brace, the nurse collaborates with physical therapy to teach or reinforce crutch walking with the brace before allowing the client indepen-dent ambulation to provide client safety and prevent injury.