Body Mechanics 1
The use of correct posture and movement during activities to prevent injury and strain
What is the definition of body mechanics?
Decrease in venous circulation allows blood to pool in lower extremities, leading to blood vessel inflammation and clot formation.
What is Thrombophlebitis and DVT.
A nurse is collecting data about a client's mobility and notes one of the client's feet drags behind them when ambulating . Which condition should the nurse suspect?
What is foot droop.
Foot drop is due to nerve damage that causes shortening of the muscle. The foot is left with the toes pointing downward and in a dropped position.
A nurse is assisting a client during ambulation when the client begins to fall. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?
Lower the client to the floor.
Rationale: The nurse should lower the client gently to the floor while supporting her head to prevent injury.
Helps balance and helps coordinate movements smoothly and effectively.
The term alignment refers to the relationship of various body parts to one another.
Maintenance of a wide base of support (a stance with feet shoulder width apart) when standing is one of the basic concepts of good body mechanics and alignment that should be followed because it helps in providing better stability.
Tissue ischemia (lack of blood flow to an area) from unrelieved pressure results in skin breakdown.
What is a pressure injury.
A nurse is preparing to lift a heavy object. Which of the following actions by the nurse indicates an understanding of body mechanics?
They stand close to the object being moved.
Rationale: The nurse should stand close to the object being moved to reduce reaching and decrease the risk of injury. This action indicates an understanding of the teaching.
A nurse is preparing to transfer a client from lying in bed to sitting in a chair. When identifying the safest method of transfer, which of the following is most important for the nurse to determine?
The client’s current weight-bearing status
Rationale: The greatest risk to this client is injury from falling during the transfer due to an inability to bear weight; therefore, the priority data for the nurse to collect is to determine how much of the client’s weight he can bear. This will help the nurse select the safest method of transfer
Protects the the back from stress and potential injury.
What is bending the knees and hips before attempting nursing activities protects the back from the stress and potential injury inherent to the physical work of nursing.
List of Immobility and Preventive Measures
Reposition in bed at least every 2hr
Ensure adequate intake (2–2.5 L/day
Encourage a well-balanced diet
Prevent deformities (footboard or other measures to prevent foot drop)
Handle/transfer patients carefully; maintain proper body alignment
A nurse is reinforcing teaching with a newly licensed nurse about orthostatic hypotension. Which of the following information should the nurse include?
Orthostatic hypotension is a decrease in blood pressure when a client changes from lying down to sitting or standing. The drop in blood pressure can cause the client to become dizzy and increases the client's risk for a fall.
A nurse is caring for a client when the safety on the bed plug’s electrical outlet pops and begins to smoke. Which of the following actions is the nurse’s priority?
Move any clients in the immediate vicinity.
Rationale: The greatest risk to this client is injury from smoke and fire; therefore, the nurse’s first action is to move any clients near the smoke to a safe location. The acronym RACE is a reminder of the order in which to take steps in the event of a fire. The nurse should rescue the clients, activate the fire alarm, confine the fire, and extinguish the fire.
Immobility slows peristalsis resulting in stool remaining in the colon longer, and muscle atrophy in the abdominal muscles that aid in expulsion of stool.
What is constipation.
The client is sitting upright and leaning forward, supporting their upper body with their hands on their knees or a table.
What is the orthopneic position
Clients who have breathing problems while lying down are often placed in the orthopneic or high fowlers position.
A nurse is assisting with teaching a class about fall prevention to a group of assisted-living residents. Which of the following statements by a resident indicates an understanding of the teaching?
Rationale: Handrails or grab bars in the bathroom can help prevent falls. Client should use them for added stability when changing positions.
A nurse applies wrist restraints to a client who is confused and attempting to pull out a chest tube. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?
Document what less-restrictive interventions she tried.
Rationale: Before applying restraints to a client, the nurse must try alternative methods that are less restrictive to protect the client and others. Alternatives to restraints can include taking the client for a walk, offering a warm beverage, using pillows or pads in wheelchairs to maintain the client’s position, or moving clients closer to the nurse’s station for better supervision
When muscles, ligaments, and tendons are not shortened and lengthened with movement, a permanent shortening of these structures may occur.
What is contractures.
This type of exercise improves joint flexibility and prevent contractures.
What is ROM exercises.
A nurse is assisting a client who has generalized weakness out of bed to a wheelchair. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?
Lock the wheels of the bed and the wheelchair.
Rationale: The nurse should keep the wheels of the bed and the wheelchair in the locked position to prevent them from moving when transferring a client.
A nurse is reinforcing information with a nursing colleague about sentinel events. Which of the following statements by the nursing colleague indicates an understanding?
"An example of a sentinel event is administering incompatible blood products to a client."