Question

A nurse is teaching a patient methods for getting up after a fall. The nurse instructs the patient to pull up to a sitting position on the floor, shuffle the buttocks to a nearby piece of furniture, and pull up on the knees in front of the furniture. What should the nurse instruct the patient to do next?

a. Stand up.
b. Place hands on the floor for leverage.
c. Pivot so that the furniture is behind the body.
d. Sit back down.

Answer 1

After pulling up onto their knees using a piece of furniture, the patient should pivot so that the furniture is behind the body. This method helps maintain balance and ensures safety when attempting to stand or sit on the furniture afterward.

Step-by-step explanation:

The subject's question is about the next step a patient should take after pulling themselves up onto their knees using a piece of furniture following a fall, as instructed by a nurse. The correct next step to maintain balance and avoid strain is c. Pivot so that the furniture is behind the body. This action allows the patient to then safely lower themselves into a seated position on the furniture. It's very similar to the principles of maintaining a center of gravity above the pivot point, as discussed in experiments about statics and body positioning, to avoid toppling over.

This instruction is a part of fall recovery steps that aim to help patients safely get back up with minimal risk of injury. Using furniture for leverage, the patient can gain vertical height gradually and ensure their center of gravity is stable before proceeding to stand up, if that is the intended final position.