Question

A nurse assesses a resident in a long-term care facility with the get up and go technique. What should this involve observing the resident do?

a. Walk carefully through a cluttered area without incident.
b. Rise from the bed, and go to the bathroom.
c. Sit and rise from an armless chair.
d. Ambulate in a straight line for 1 foot

Answer 1

The 'get up and go' technique involves observing a resident's ability to walk, balance, and maintain an appropriate gait, including specific subtests like tandem gait and balance assessments while standing or hopping on one foot.

Step-by-step explanation:

When a nurse assesses a resident in a long-term care facility with the "get up and go" technique, they observe the resident's ability to ambulate, balance, and their gait. This includes watching the resident walk normally for a distance, turn, and return to the starting position, paying attention to any abnormal placement of the feet or the movement of the arms. Subtests may involve tandem gait, where the patient places the heel of one foot against the toe of the other and walks in a straight line, and walking only on the heels or toes to evaluate additional aspects of balance. Other parts of the neurological exam relevant to gait include the station subtest where the patient must stand in a normal position and hop on one foot, and examining posture, which involves the functions of the spinocerebellum and vestibulocerebellum.