Question

Difficulty: HardBasic Care and Comfort

A client with multiple sclerosis is admitted with an acute exacerbation, experiencing severe lower extremity spasticity, profound weakness, and functional incontinence. The healthcare provider prescribes strict bed rest. The nurse is updating the plan of care to promote optimal basic care, comfort, and safety. Which of the following interventions should the nurse include? Select all that apply.

  1. Use a friction-reducing device for repositioning and place trochanter rolls along the client's hips.Answer
  2. B
    Place a firm pillow directly under the client's popliteal spaces to relieve tension on the lower back.
  3. Establish a scheduled toileting program by offering the bedpan every 2 hours during waking hours.Answer
  4. D
    Instruct the unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP) to evaluate the client's bony prominences for nonblanchable erythema during daily hygiene.
  5. E
    Apply soft bilateral wrist restraints at night to prevent the client from removing their incontinence garments while sleeping.
  6. Perform passive range-of-motion (ROM) exercises slowly, stopping temporarily if a muscle spasm occurs.Answer

Answer

The correct interventions are using a friction-reducing device with trochanter rolls, establishing a scheduled toileting program, and performing slow, passive range-of-motion exercises.
The correct interventions focus on safely maintaining skin integrity, promoting joint mobility, and ensuring safe elimination for an immobile client. Using a friction-reducing device with trochanter rolls prevents shearing and maintains neutral hip alignment. Establishing a scheduled toileting program manages functional incontinence proactively, protecting the skin from moisture-associated breakdown. Performing passive range-of-motion exercises slowly, while pausing during spasms, prevents contractures without causing muscle injury or severe pain.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the client's clinical presentation.
The client is completely immobile, has muscle spasticity, and is incontinent, placing them at high risk for skin breakdown, contractures, and deep vein thrombosis (DVT).
Identifying the primary physiological risks guides the selection of safe basic care interventions.
2
Evaluate the interventions for skin integrity and hygiene.
Friction-reducing devices prevent shearing, and scheduled toileting prevents moisture damage. However, delegating the evaluation of skin integrity to a UAP is an unsafe nursing practice.
Skin protection requires appropriate physical tools, proactive hygiene routines, and registered nurse-level assessment.
3
Evaluate the interventions for mobility and positioning.
Trochanter rolls maintain joint alignment, and slow passive ROM prevents contractures. Placing pillows under the popliteal spaces is strictly contraindicated due to the high risk of DVT.
Proper positioning must avoid compromising circulation in a bedbound client.
4
Evaluate the interventions for safety and comfort.
Using restraints to prevent a client from removing incontinence garments is a violation of restraint protocols.
Restraint use is heavily regulated and limited strictly to preventing immediate physical harm when all other alternatives have failed.

Key Concept

Basic Care and Comfort: Immobility Management
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