In: Nursing
The nurse is assisting the Registered Nurse (RN) in providing care for a patient who is recovering from a stroke with residual effects. Which assigned intervention by the RN will the nurse question?
A. Observe the patient performing active range of motion (ROM) on the affected side.
B. Assist with maintaining correct body alignment for comfort.
C. Follow the physical therapist’s (PT’s) recommendations for being up in a bedside chair.
D. Support affected extremities with pillows to prevent dislocation
Stroke is a condition due to hemorrhage in the brain that can cause permanent disability. A person can have residual effects such as paralysis of body parts. The responsibiliy of a nurse is to comfort the patient, assist the patient performing daily living activities and help them to cope with the condition. The nurse should follow physiotherapist recomendations while providing care and using comfort measures. The unaffected extrimities should be supported and encourage the patient for active range of motion exercise on the unaffected side. The patient will not be able to move or perform active range of motion exercise on the affected side, so the nurse should help with passive range of motion exercise on the affected side and observe that the patient perform passive range of motion (ROM) of the affected limb with the unaffected limb.
The answer is A. Observe the patient performing active range of motion (ROM) on the affected side.