The newly admitted patient has contractures of both lower extremities.
What nursing intervention should be included in this patient's plan of care?

Choice A rationale:

Restrain the patient with a chemical sedative. Rationale: Restraints, especially chemical sedatives, should be avoided whenever possible due to the risk of complications and patient distress. Restraints can lead to decreased mobility, increased agitation, and other adverse effects. They should only be used as a last resort and with appropriate justification, such as ensuring patient or staff safety in emergency situations.

Choice B rationale:

Encourage the patient to use grab bars located near toilets and showers. Rationale: Installing grab bars in bathrooms helps prevent falls by providing support and stability for patients, especially those with mobility issues. Encouraging their use promotes patient independence and safety while performing essential activities of daily living.

Choice C rationale:

Place the call light within the patient's reach. Rationale: Placing the call light within the patient's reach ensures that the patient can easily summon assistance when needed. Prompt response to patient requests can prevent accidents and falls by addressing the patient's needs in a timely manner.

Choice D rationale:

Conduct rounds every four hours. Rationale: Conducting regular rounds allows healthcare providers to assess the patient's condition, address their needs, and identify potential fall risks. However, the specific frequency of rounds may vary based on the patient's condition and the healthcare facility's policies. Some patients may require more frequent monitoring, especially if they are at a higher risk of falling.

Choice E rationale:

Apply brakes on wheelchairs and beds. Rationale: Applying brakes on wheelchairs and beds prevents unintended movement, enhancing patient safety and reducing the risk of falls. It ensures that the patient's mobility aids remain stationary, providing stability when the patient is transferring or repositioning.

Choice D rationale:

Adduction is the movement of a body part toward the midline of the body. When the nurse moves the patient's leg toward the midline of the patient's body, it is an adduction movement of the hip joint. This movement involves bringing the leg back to the body's midline, which is the opposite of abduction, where the leg moves away from the midline.

Choice A rationale:

Flexion refers to the bending of a joint, decreasing the angle between two body parts. This is not the correct term for moving the leg toward the midline; it describes a different movement.

Choice B rationale:

Abduction is the movement of a body part away from the midline of the body. It is the opposite movement to adduction. When the leg moves away from the midline, it is in abduction, not adduction.

Choice C rationale:

Extension refers to the straightening of a joint, increasing the angle between two body parts. It is the opposite movement to flexion. This movement does not involve bringing the leg toward the midline.