Question

A nurse is caring for a client who has limited mobility in his lower extremities. Which of the following actions should the nurse take to prevent skin breakdown?

1) Reposition the client every 2 hours
2) Apply lotion to the client's skin
3) Encourage the client to sit for long periods of time
4) Use a pressure-relieving mattress

Answer 1

To prevent skin breakdown in clients with limited mobility, it is essential to reposition them every 2 hours, moisturize their skin, reduce prolonged sitting, and use a pressure-relieving mattress. These actions help prevent bedsores by eliminating pressure points and improving blood circulation.

Step-by-step explanation:

To prevent skin breakdown in a client who has limited mobility in his lower extremities, the following actions should be taken:

1. Reposition the client every 2 hours to prevent constant, long-term unrelieved pressure on certain parts of the body, especially those that are bony. This helps to maintain proper blood flow and prevent necrosis.
2. Apply lotion to the client's skin to keep it moisturized. While this alone does not prevent bedsores, it can help maintain skin integrity and offer minor protection against skin breakdown.
3. Encourage the patient to reduce sitting time. Long periods of sitting can exacerbate pressure on certain areas and lead to bedsores. Mobility and repositioning are key to preventing these ulcers.
4. Use a pressure-relieving mattress which can significantly decrease the risk of bedsores by distributing the weight and reducing pressure points.

Bedsores, or decubitis ulcers, are a serious concern for patients with limited mobility. These are preventable by eliminating pressure points and using support devices to decrease pressure and improve blood flow. It's critical that care teams are proactive in applying interventions to prevent these potentially fatal wounds.