The nurse assesses an older adult client’s ability to perform activities of daily living (ADLs). When observing the client ambulate, the nurse notes that the client’s posture is upright, and the gait is smooth and steady. Which action should the nurse take next?
Determine the client’s activity tolerance.
Teach the client to shorten the stride to prevent falls.
Initiate a fall risk protocol for the client.
Record the client’s ability to perform ADLs safely.
The Correct Answer is D
Choice A rationale
Determining the client’s activity tolerance is important but should follow the initial assessment of the client’s ability to perform ADLs safely.
Choice B rationale
Teaching the client to shorten the stride to prevent falls is not necessary if the client’s gait is smooth and steady. This intervention is more appropriate for clients with gait instability.
Choice C rationale
Initiating a fall risk protocol for the client is not necessary if the client’s gait is smooth and steady. This protocol is more appropriate for clients with a higher risk of falls.
Choice D rationale
Recording the client’s ability to perform ADLs safely is the next appropriate action. This documentation is essential for the care plan and ensures that the client’s current status is accurately reflected.
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View Related questions
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
Choice A rationale
Edema in the fingers and hands can affect the accuracy of a pulse oximeter reading. The swelling can interfere with the probe’s ability to detect the blood flow properly, leading to a falsely low oxygen saturation reading.
Choice B rationale
A capillary refill time of 2 seconds is considered normal and does not typically affect the accuracy of a pulse oximeter reading.
Choice C rationale
Blood pressure of 142/88 mm Hg, while elevated, does not directly impact the accuracy of a pulse oximeter reading.
Choice D rationale
A radial pulse volume of 3+ indicates a strong pulse, which should not interfere with the accuracy of a pulse oximeter reading.
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
Choice A rationale
Entering the occurrence after the 1400 notes and identifying it as a “late entry” is an acceptable practice but may not provide sufficient clarity regarding the timing of the documentation.
Choice B rationale
Requesting removal initiated by the Health Information Manager is not necessary in this scenario. The focus should be on accurately documenting the missed occurrence rather than removing previously entered documentation.
Choice C rationale
Creating an electronic correction after 1400 notes are officially unlocked implies that there was an error in the original documentation. Since the issue here is not correcting an error but rather adding missed documentation, creating a correction may not be appropriate.
Choice D rationale
Making an electronic addendum following the 1400 documentation allows the nurse to add additional information to the chart without altering the original entry. This approach maintains the integrity of the original documentation while clearly indicating that the 0900 occurrence was added after the fact.