EAQ - Mobility
The nurse has provided instructions about back safety to a client. Which statement by the client indicates understanding of these instructions?
"I will carry objects close to my body." By carrying objects close to the center of the body, the client can lessen back strain. Sleeping on the stomach, pulling objects, and bending at the back add pressure and strain to the back muscles. STUDY TIP: Regular exercise, even if only a 10-minute brisk walk each day, aids in reducing stress. Although you may have been able to enjoy regular sessions at the health club or at an exercise class several times a week, you may have to cut down on that time without giving up a set schedule for an exercise routine. Using an exercise bicycle that has a book rack on it at home, the YMCA, or a health club can help you accomplish two goals at once. You can exercise while beginning a reading assignment or while studying notes for an exam. Listening to lecture recordings while doing floor exercises is another option. At least a couple of times a week, however, the exercise routine should be done without the mental connection to school; time for the mind to unwind is necessary, too.
A client has a shoulder immobilizer after surgical repair of a fractured humerus. Which instruction would the nurse provide to the client about the correct use of the immobilizer?
"Release the wristband to exercise the forearm and hand routinely." Wrist flexion and extension, and forearm pronation and supination while the elbow is maintained against the chest, constitute part of a prescribed exercise program after this surgery; this promotes circulation and prevents musculoskeletal stiffness. Placing the elbow on a pillow when sitting in a chair will create pressure within the shoulder joint and will disturb healing. The shoulder immobilizer and its two bands should fit snugly but at no time should constrict the chest or parts of the arm. The shoulder joint is not released and exercised until specific instructions are given by the primary health care provider during a follow-up visit. STUDY TIP: Laughter is a great stress reliever. Watching a short program that makes you laugh, reading something funny, or sharing humor with friends helps decrease stress.
The nurse is caring for a client whose mobility is restricted to a wheelchair after a motor vehicle accident. The client has been prescribed physiotherapy as a part of rehabilitation care. Which interventions would the nurse consider when the client is discharged from the health care facility?
Assist the family in identifying community support systems. Encourage the primary caregiver to set a routine time for respite. Consider the primary caregiver's experience in the discharge plan. The nurse would assist the family in identifying support within the community. The family may need assistance with meals, physiotherapy exercises, and care for younger children. The nurse would encourage the primary caregiver to set a routine time for respite. The nurse would consider the primary caregiver's experience and abilities with nursing care while planning client discharge. The nurse would not only focus on the weaknesses and challenges faced by the client but also on the client's strengths. Children should be included in the support system, and the client and family should spend time sharing their stories with each other.
Which outcome indicates range-of-motion exercises have been effective for a child with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA)?
The knees are mobile The exercises are done to preserve function by mobilizing restricted joints. Circulation is not affected by the arthritic process. Exercise does not affect the subcutaneous nodules in the joints. Exercises are done to restore joint function; they do not necessarily relieve pain.
Which is the purpose of encouraging active leg and foot exercises for a client who has had hip surgery?
prevent clot formation Active range-of-motion exercises increase venous return in the unaffected leg, preventing complications of immobility, including thrombophlebitis. Although isotonic exercises do promote muscle strength, that is not the purpose of these exercises at this time. These isotonic exercises are being performed on the unaffected extremity; there should be no discomfort. Active ROM exercises will not improve wound healing.
