A nurse working in an acute care for elders unit observes that a client on the unit frequently stumbles when ambulating with a walker. Which action by the nurse is best?
A) Provide a wheelchair for the client to use for the duration of the hospital stay.
B) Ask the client to remain in bed as much as possible and teach the client about falls risks.
C) Place a chair in the hallway so the client can take a rest break when feeling unsteady.
D) Ensure that the woman's mobility is assessed and the appropriate assistive device is provided.
Ans: D
Nurses should be aware of problems with assistive devices and follow up these problems with the appropriate therapists. It would be inappropriate to confine the client to bed or to independently replace her walker with a wheelchair. Providing a chair for rest breaks does not address the central problem that she may be using the wrong device.
You might also like to view...
A mother has brought her infant to the clinic for the first immunization. What would the nurse be sure to include when providing patient education for the infant's mother?
A) Avoid having her child get more than one vaccine at a time. B) Stop the immunizations after 2 years of age. C) Keep a written record of the child's immunizations. D) Omit immunizations if the injections are too upsetting for her child.
A diabetic patient has been admitted with renal failure. The nurse will monitor for the most life-threatening effect of renal failure which is the:
A) Accumulation of wastes B) Retention of potassium C) Depletion of calcium D) Lack of blood pressure control
Which of the following groups lists a level of national alertness in the United States, from the lowest to the highest level of alertness?
a. Blue, Green, Orange, Yellow, Red b. Green, Blue, Yellow, Orange, Red c. Red, Yellow, Orange, Green, Blue d. Yellow, Blue, Green, Red, Orange
Following myringotomy for acute otitis media, the patient should be instructed by the nurse on what aspect of home management?
1. Avoid sudden changes in barometric pressure. 2. Ear irrigations should be placed on the wall of the external canal. 3. Sterile, cotton-tipped swabs can be used to clean the ear drainage. 4. Swimming is restricted for approximately two weeks.