The nurse teaches the client's caregiver how to help the client fall when the client ambulates. Which instruction does the nurse provide to minimize potential injury to the client and the care-giver?

Question

1. Get the nearest chair and put it behind the client.
2. Ease client to the side to protect the client's head.
3. Straighten your leg and let client slide to the floor.
4. Hold onto gait belt and pull the client close to you.

Answer 1

3
3. If the client complains of dizziness or begins to fall, instruct the caregiver to extend a leg under the client and allow the client to slide down the leg and gently reach the fall. This is the best method of preventing injury to the client and caregiver because the caregiver engages strong muscles to act as an angle between the client and the floor, slowing the speed of the client's descent.
1. This is a reasonable suggestion if the chair is within very close proximity to the caregiver. If the caregiver has to release the client to get the chair, the client is left unstable and is likely to suffer a fall or injury.
2 and 4. The client avoids a head injury when the caregiver extends a leg and allows the client to slide down the leg. The caregiver risks personal injury trying to direct the client's fall in any other manner unless strong muscles such as the legs are used. The nurse uses back muscles to hold the gait belt with a client fall and risks a serious back injury from twisting and reaching in the process.