A patient who has had an open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) of a hip fracture tells the nurse that he is ready to get out of bed for the first time. Which action should the nurse take?
a. Use a mechanical lift to transfer the patient from the bed to the chair.
b. Check the postoperative orders for the patient's weight-bearing status.
c. Avoid administration of pain medications before getting the patient up.
d. Delegate the transfer of the patient to nursing assistive personnel (NAP).
ANS: B
The nurse should be familiar with the weight-bearing orders for the patient before attempting the transfer. Mechanical lifts are not typically needed after this surgery. Pain medications should be given because the movement is likely to be painful for the patient. The registered nurse (RN) should supervise the patient during the initial transfer to evaluate how well the patient is able to accomplish this skill.
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