Basic Care & Comfort

Question 1

Responsibilities of the nurse during postmortem care

Answer 1

• Providing emotional support to the family members.
• Facilitating cultural and religious rituals related to death.
• Offering counseling services to family members.

Question 2

When the client ambulates with a walker

Answer 2

✓ They should advance the walker 6-10 inches
✓ Step into the walker with the weaker/affected leg first
✓ Then step into the walker with the stronger leg

Question 3

When a client uses a walker

Answer 3

the elbows should be flexed 15-30 degrees

Question 4

Trendelenburg position

Answer 4

• when a client’s body is laid supine or flat on the back on a 15-30 degree incline with the feet elevated above the head.
• it increases the venous blood return to the heart when a client is affected by hypotension, hypovolemia, or shock
• may also improves spinal anesthesia’s effects and prevents air embolism during central venous cannulation

Question 5

Prone position

Answer 5

• when a client is placed horizontally with the face oriented down.
• often used during surgical procedures, especially for those needing spine and back access
• also used to increase oxygenation in clients with respiratory distress

Question 6

Supine position

Answer 6

• when a client is placed horizontally with the face oriented up
• often used during surgical procedures, especially for those needing access to the thoracic area/ cavity

Question 7

Standard lateral decubitus position

Answer 7

• when the client lies on their left or right side with the operative side up
• the client’s legs are flexed with pillows or foam padding between them

Question 8

Fowler’s position

Answer 8

• client is seated in a “semi-sitting” position when the head of the bed is elevated at a 45 to 60 degrees angle
• there are variations in Fowler’s position:
  low (15-30 degrees),
  semi-Fowler (30-45 degrees),
  standard (45-60 degrees), and
  high Fowler’s (60-90 degrees)

Indications for Fowler’s position:
1. To promote oxygenation during respiratory distress because it allows maximum chest expansion and relaxation of abdominal muscles (e.g., infants with respiratory distress).
2. To increase comfort during eating and other activities.
3. To improve uterine drainage in post-partum women.
4. To minimize the risk of aspiration in clients with oral or nasal gastric feeding tubes.
5. Fowler’s position aids peristalsis and swallowing by the effect of gravitational pull.