Question

A nurse is caring for a client following an acute MI. The patient is concerned that providing self care will be difficult due to extreme fatigue. Which intervention should the nurse implement to promote the patient's independence?

1) Encourage the patient to rest and conserve energy
2) Assist the patient with all self-care activities
3) Take over all self-care activities for the patient
4) Encourage the patient to rely on family members for self-care

Answer 1

The best approach for a nurse caring for a patient after an acute MI is to encourage the patient to rest and conserve energy while still promoting self-care within their energy limits. A combination of rest, tailored assistance, and rehabilitation should be used to foster independence without causing undue fatigue.

Step-by-step explanation:

The primary goal in caring for a patient following an acute myocardial infarction (MI) is to promote both healing and independence while also managing symptoms like fatigue. Therefore, the most appropriate intervention would be to encourage the patient to rest and conserve energy while finding a balance that enables self-care without exacerbating their condition.

The nurse should:

1. Assess the patient's current level of energy and abilities.
2. Encourage self-care within the patient's energy limits, possibly suggesting the breaking down of tasks into smaller, more manageable steps.
3. Promote periods of rest between activities to prevent overwhelming fatigue.
4. Coordinate with occupational and physical therapists to create a tailored rehabilitation program focused on building the patient's strength and endurance for self-care tasks.

While it is important to encourage independence, providing assistance with self-care activities as needed, the nurse should avoid completely taking over such activities, as this could lead to increased dependency and impede recovery. Instead, focusing on a gradual return to independence with appropriate support will better serve the patient's long-term wellness.