The nurse prepares an older male adult who has osteoarthritis (OA) for discharge. Which instruction does the nurse include in patient teaching to maintain safety for this man?
a. Take ibuprofen (Motrin) rather than opioid analgesics.
b. Increase rest periods to slow disease progression.
c. Report joint instability to the health care provider.
d. Avoid stretching the affected joint during exercise.
C
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A Incorrect. Although ibuprofen is much less likely to cause dizziness, hypoten-sion, or sedation, nonsteroidal antiinflammatory agents such as ibuprofen are poor analgesic choices for older adults because they can aggravate hypertension and impair renal blood flow.
B Incorrect. The nurse avoids recommending increased rest because rest contri-butes to stiffness.
C Correct. As OA progresses, the joint deteriorates and can become unstable, and thereby increases the risk of falls. The joint stability will not improve without physical therapy or surgery, so the patient needs to report it to the health care provider.
D Incorrect. Stretching is a very important form of exercise for older adults with OA because it helps to maintain joint flexibility and range of motion.
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