(PrepU) Mobility Techniques and Use of Assistive Mobility Devices: Concept Exemplar

A client with chronic progressive multiple sclerosis is learning to use a walker. What instruction will best ensure the client's safety?

"Place the walker directly in front of you and step into it as you move it forward." When the client places the walker directly in front of them, they create a stable base for forward movement and reduces the likelihood of falls. The client shouldn't set the back leg down first because this creates an unstable base that could lead to a fall. The client should firmly grip the side bars; doing so provides a more stable base of support than gripping the front bar. The nurse shouldn't suggest that the client use a walker with wheels. Only a physician or physical therapist may order a walker with wheels.

The health care provider has ordered that the client should ambulate 3 times a day. The nurse enters the room to ambulate the client and the client reports pain. What is the nurse's most appropriate action?

Medicate the client and wait to ambulate later. It is most appropriate to manage the client's pain first. The client will be able to ambulate more easily and it is not necessary to cause the client further pain. Ambulating first considers the needs of the nurse, not the client. The client has not indicated misunderstanding of benefits or the importance of ambulation.

The nurse assists a postoperative client with ambulation. The nurse recognizes that assisting the client when performing this skill meets which of Maslow's basic human needs?

Safety and security Nurses carry out a wide variety of activities to meet clients' physical safety needs, such as moving and ambulating clients. Assisting the client to ambulate ensures that the client will not experience a fall. From the bottom of the hierarchy upwards, the needs are: physiological, safety, love and belonging, esteem and self-actualization. The third stage in Maslow's hierarchy of needs is the social stage (also known as the love and belonging stage), which includes interpersonal relationships. Human behavior is driven by needs, one of which is the need for a sense of personal importance, value or self-esteem. Self-actualization represents growth of an individual toward fulfillment of the highest needs; those for meaning in life, in particular.

A 14-year-old girl with a fractured leg is receiving instructions from the nurse on how to use crutches. Which intervention should the nurse implement to help prevent nerve palsy in the client?

Teach the client not to rest with the crutch pad pressing on the axilla. Pressure of a crutch against the axilla could lead to compression and damage of the brachial nerve plexus crossing the axilla, resulting in permanent nerve palsy. Teach children not to rest with the crutch pad pressing on the axilla but always to support their weight at the hand grip. Always assess the tips of crutches to be certain the rubber tip is intact and not worn through as the tip prevents the crutch from slipping. Be certain the child is walking with the crutches placed about 6 inches to the side of the foot. This distance furnishes a wide, balanced base for support. Caution parents to clear articles such as throw rugs, small footstools or toys out of paths at home, to avoid tripping the child.

A nurse is assessing a client for the risk of falls. The nurse should obtain

gait and balance information. Assessing the client's gait and balance helps determine the risk of falls. The facility's policy on restraints isn't relevant to a risk assessment for falls. Assessing the family's psychosocial history and determining the patient's home activity level are important but not as important as gait and balance in relation to the risk of falls.

A client is preparing for discharge from the emergency department after sustaining an ankle sprain. The client is instructed to avoid weight bearing on the affected leg and is given crutches. After instruction, the client demonstrates proper crutch use in the hallway. What additional information is most important to know before discharging the client?

whether the client needs to navigate stairs routinely at home Knowing whether the client must routinely navigate steps at home is most important. If the client must navigate steps, special crutch-walking techniques must be taught to safely navigate the stairs. Although pets, parking on the street, and driving a car with a stick shift can pose problems for the client, these factors aren't important to know before discharging the client with crutches.

A patient learning to ambulate with crutches advances both crutches and then lifts both feet, moving them forward and landing them in front of the crutches. The patient then repeats this motion. The nurse identifies this as which type of crutch gait?

Swing-through The patient is demonstrating the swing-through gait, in which both crutches are advanced and then both feet are swung forward, landing in front of the crutches. The 4-point gait involves advancing the right crutch, then the left foot, then the left crutch, and then the right foot. The 3-point gait involves advancing the left foot and both crutches, then advancing the right foot, then advancing the left foot and both crutches, and finally advancing the right foot. The swing-to gait involves advancing both crutches and then lifting both feet, swinging them forward and landing them next to the crutches.

A type of therapeutic exercise, performed by a client, in which the muscle alternately contracts and relaxes is

isometric Isometric exercises consist of alternately contracting and relaxing a muscle while keeping the part in a fixed position. Resistive exercises are carried out by a client working against resistance produced by either manual or mechanical means. Passive exercises are carried out by the therapist or the nurse without assistance from the client. Active-assistive exercises are carried out by the client with the assistance of the therapist or nurse.

A patient who is 5 feet 10 inches tall is being measured for crutches. The nurse determines which crutches as being the appropriate length?

54 inches When using a patient's height to determine the appropriate crutch length, the nurse subtracts 16 inches (40 cm) from the patient's height. In this situation, the patient's height of 70 inches minus 16 inches equals a crutch length of 54 inches.

The nurse uses gait belts when assisting clients to ambulate. Which client would be a likely candidate for this assistive device?

A client who has leg strength and can cooperate with the movement The gait belt is used to help the client stand and provides stabilization during pivoting. Gait belts also allow the nurse to assist in ambulating clients who have leg strength, can cooperate, and require minimal assistance. A gait belt is not used on clients who have either an abdominal or thoracic incision. A gait belt would not be used on a client who is confined to bed rest.