Open Source Handbook of Nursing/Activity exercise
mobility[edit | edit source]
Nurses can support client mobility using a number of aids, including
- wheel chair
- hydraulic or electric lift (standing or sitting type)
- crutches
- slide sheet
Because of the seriousness and frequency of carer injuries, most health care workplaces in industrialized countries have moved to adopt no-lift policies to protect nurses from injuries sustained while mobilizing clients. Nurses have a responsibility for responsible body mechanics around manual handling tasks. For example, should have a wide base of support and prefer pushing to pulling while managing clients in supine or recumbent positions.
sprain[edit | edit source]
muscular strains occasionally rupture the muscle or associated soft tissue. The first aid treatment for such injuries can be summarized in the mnemonic
- REST
- ICE
- COMPRESSION
- ELEVATION
Immobilising an injured limb is the best course until a definite diagnosis can be made by a physiotherapist or radiological examination. There are a number of devices available for nurses to use, such as inflatable or re-usable splints and a stop sign sling made with linen around the upper limb, suspended from an intravenous pole or monkey-grip. Full plaster as a form of splinting fractures has largely been replaced by unilateral (back-slab) plaster because of the risk of compression injuries. All splints will require neurovascular observations
- COLOUR
- WARMTH
- MOVEMENT
- SENSATION
- PULSES - possibly using a doppler for pulses in the foot.