A client smoking in his bathroom has dropped a cigarette butt into wastepaper basket, which begins to smolder. Which of the following actions is the nurse's priority?

A) Each movement is repeated 5 times by the patient: While active range-of-motion (ROM) exercises often involve repetition, the key goal of passive ROM exercises (when the nurse is assisting the patient) is not to have the patient repeat movements. Instead, the nurse should ensure the patient’s joints are moved gently to their fullest range without causing discomfort or damage. Repeating movements a specific number of times isn't a required approach for passive ROM.

B) Each movement is moved just to the point of resistance by the nurse: This technique is the most appropriate when performing passive ROM exercises. The nurse should gently move the joint through its range of motion and stop at the point where resistance is felt, but without pushing into pain or forcing movement beyond the joint’s natural limits. This approach helps prevent injury while still providing the necessary mobility and flexibility.

C) Each movement is completed quickly and smoothly by the nurse: While the movement should be smooth, it should never be rushed or performed quickly, as that can cause strain or discomfort. ROM exercises should be done slowly and deliberately to avoid injury and to allow the joints to move through their full range of motion without abrupt movements. Quick motions could increase the risk of joint or muscle injury.

D) Each movement is performed until the patient reports pain: ROM exercises should be performed gently and within the range that does not cause pain. The goal is to maintain joint flexibility and prevent contractures, not to push the patient into pain. If the patient reports pain, the nurse should stop immediately to avoid injury and reassess the approach to ROM exercises. Pain should never be a target for achieving range of motion.

A) Thrombus formation:
While immobility increases the risk of thrombus formation due to stasis of blood in the veins, hypercalcemia is not directly linked to thrombus formation. However, immobility and hypercalcemia could contribute to increased clotting risk indirectly, but renal stones are a more direct concern in this situation.

B) Pressure ulcers:
Pressure ulcers are a common concern for immobilized patients due to prolonged pressure on bony prominences. However, hypercalcemia does not directly cause or increase the risk of pressure ulcers. While immobility is a risk factor for pressure ulcers, hypercalcemia is not the primary cause for concern in this case.

C) Renal stones:
Hypercalcemia (elevated calcium levels in the blood) can lead to the formation of renal stones (kidney stones), as excess calcium is often excreted in the urine, where it can crystallize and form stones. This is the most direct and significant concern for a patient with high calcium levels. Monitoring for renal stones would be the priority action for the nurse in this case.

D) Hypostatic pneumonia:
Hypostatic pneumonia occurs due to immobility, causing mucus accumulation in the lungs and subsequent infection. While immobility is a concern for pneumonia, it is not specifically linked to hypercalcemia. The nurse should be monitoring for pneumonia in any immobilized patient, but the more immediate risk related to hypercalcemia is renal stones.