A charge nurse is supervising a newly hired nurse who is instructing a client about how to use a walker. For which of the following actions should the charge nurse intervene?

Choice A reason: Advancing the walker and taking a step towards it is the correct technique, ensuring stability by moving the walker first, then stepping. This maintains balance and prevents falls, aligning with safe walker use protocols, so no intervention is needed for this action.
Choice B reason: Taking multiple steps while holding the walker compromises stability, as the walker must be repositioned after each step to ensure support. This increases fall risk, requiring the charge nurse to intervene to correct the technique and ensure the client’s safety during ambulation.
Choice C reason: Grasping the walker by the hand grips on the upper bars is correct, as it provides optimal control and balance. This standard technique supports safe mobility, and no intervention is required, as it adheres to proper walker use guidelines.
Choice D reason: Lifting the walker as it is moved forward is acceptable for lightweight or rolling walkers, depending on the client’s strength and model. While sliding is preferred for standard walkers, lifting is not inherently unsafe, so intervention is unnecessary unless improper execution is observed.

Choice A reason: Telling the daughter not to worry dismisses her emotional concerns and does not facilitate open communication. Addressing fears about a loved one’s death requires empathy and discussion to process grief and understand hospice care, which focuses on comfort. This response is inappropriate, as it avoids addressing the daughter’s needs.
Choice B reason: Acknowledging the daughter’s concerns about her mother’s death and inviting discussion is therapeutic. It validates her emotions, encouraging open dialogue about grief, hospice care, and end-of-life expectations. This approach supports psychological coping, aligns with palliative care principles, and helps the daughter prepare for her mother’s transition, making it appropriate.
Choice C reason: Discussing the mother’s cancer and its implications helps the daughter understand the disease progression and hospice care’s role in symptom management. This fosters informed communication, addressing fears and clarifying expectations. It supports emotional preparation for end-of-life discussions, making this response appropriate for facilitating understanding and coping.
Choice D reason: Encouraging the daughter to avoid thinking about dying dismisses the reality of the situation and hinders emotional processing. Hospice care involves preparing for end-of-life, and open discussions about death are therapeutic. This response is inappropriate, as it discourages necessary conversations about the mother’s condition and prognosis.