A healthcare provider prescribes moving a client with left-sided lower extremity weakness out of bed for the first time. In what sequence should the nurse perform the following actions to safely transfer the client from the bed to a wheelchair? (Arrange the items in the correct chronological order, from first to last.)
- 1Position the wheelchair at a 45-degree angle to the bed on the client's right side.
- 2Lock the wheel brakes on both the bed and the wheelchair.
- 3Assist the client to a sitting position on the edge of the bed and assess for dizziness.
- 4Apply a gait belt securely around the client's waist.
- 5Instruct the client to bear weight on the right leg and pivot into the wheelchair.
Answer
The correct sequence ensures environmental safety is established first (positioning and locking), followed by physiological safety (assessing for dizziness), mechanical safety (gait belt), and finally the physical transfer using the client's strong side.
Safe transfer protocols dictate preparing the environment first by optimizing placement and locking equipment. Next, the nurse must ensure the client is physiologically stable by addressing orthostatic hypotension. Then, the nurse applies safety equipment (gait belt) before executing the physical weight-bearing and pivot maneuver toward the client's unaffected side.
Step-by-Step Solution
Key Concept
Safe Client Transfers and Mobility