A nurse is ambulating a client who catches her foot on the bed frame and begins to fall. Which of the following is an accurate step to prevent or minimize damage from this fall?

A. Placing the nurse's feet close together side by side to have a good center of gravity:

While maintaining a good center of gravity is important, in a falling situation, it's crucial to prioritize the client's safety over the nurse's stability. This option doesn’t address the prevention of the client’s fall.

B. Rocking the nurse's pelvis out and trying to hold the patient up to prevent falling:

Attempting to hold the patient up during a fall may put both the nurse and the client at risk of injury.

C. Grasping the gait belt and pushing the client’s body backward away from the nurse's body:

Pushing the client backward could cause the client to lose balance and fall in an uncontrolled manner.

D. Using the patient's gait belt to gently slide the client down the nurse's body to the floor:

This is the recommended action as it allows for a controlled descent to the floor, minimizing the impact of the fall and reducing the risk of injury to both the client and the nurse.

A. Infusing an intravenous fluid bolus 15 minutes before transferring the client into the chair:

Administering an IV fluid bolus before transferring the client to a chair is not necessary and not directly related to the safe transfer from bed to chair. It doesn't directly assist with the physical transfer process.

B. Obtaining a quad cane for the client to use as a transfer aid:

While a quad cane can be helpful for some individuals with mobility issues, it might not be necessary for the initial transfer from bed to chair and may not be appropriate for everyone.

C. Positioning a friction-reducing sheet under the client:

While a friction-reducing sheet can assist with moving a client, it may not be necessary for the initial transfer from bed to chair, especially if the client can bear weight and perform the transfer safely.

D. Having the client sit on the side of the bed for several minutes before moving to the chair:

This is the best action. Allowing the client to sit on the side of the bed for a few minutes helps the body adjust to being in a sitting position after an extended period of lying down. It allows for gradual adaptation and reduces the risk of dizziness or orthostatic hypotension when moving from lying down to sitting up.