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Question

Difficulty: EasyAccident, Error, and Injury Prevention

During the night shift, a client recovering from a fractured pelvis becomes agitated and continuously attempts to climb over the bed rails. To maintain safety, what is the best initial intervention for the practical nurse to implement?

  1. Activate a weight-sensitive bed alarm system.Answer
  2. B
    Secure the client's wrists with soft protective devices.
  3. C
    Instruct the nursing assistant to determine if the client is experiencing medication side effects.
  4. D
    Document that the client is exhibiting expected age-related cognitive decline.

Answer

Activate a weight-sensitive bed alarm system.
The correct answer utilizes a bed alarm, which is a highly effective, least-restrictive safety device. It promotes patient safety by notifying healthcare personnel the moment the client attempts to leave the bed, allowing for rapid response to prevent a fall without violating the client's freedom of movement.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the immediate safety hazard.
The agitated client is at a high risk for a fall and further injury to the fractured pelvis by attempting to climb out of bed.
Prioritizing client safety and fall prevention is the fundamental goal in this clinical scenario.
2
Select the appropriate intervention based on the principle of least restrictive restraints.
A bed alarm is chosen to alert staff of movement without physically restricting the client.
Standard nursing practice requires implementing and exhausting all less restrictive alternatives before considering any form of physical restraint.

Key Concept

Accident, Error, and Injury Prevention: Restraint Alternatives
Estimated Time:45s
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Topics

Accident, Error, and Injury Prevention

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