Question

A nurse visiting a patient in the patient's home assesses the environment for extrinsic risk factors for falling. Which factors should the nurse have the patient or family correct?

a. No door thresholds are present.
b. The kitchen floor is clean, shiny, and slick.
c. Lamps have 60-watt bulbs.
d. The telephone is placed on the bedside table.

Answer 1

The nurse should focus on correcting a slick kitchen floor and ensuring that the telephone is within easy reach of the patient to minimize fall risks in the home.

Step-by-step explanation:

The nurse assessing a patient's home for extrinsic risk factors for falling should advise correction of environments that could lead to a fall. In this scenario, the nurse should have the patient or family correct the following:

• b. The kitchen floor is clean, shiny, and slick: A shiny and slick floor can be very slippery, especially when wet, posing a significant risk for falls.
• d. The telephone is placed on the bedside table: If the telephone is out of easy reach, it can lead to stretching or straining, which might cause the patient to lose balance and fall.

Therefore, to minimize the risk of falls, it would be advisable to address the slickness of the kitchen floor and ensure that the telephone is within comfortable reach.