Final answer:
When a resident begins to fall, the Nurse Assistant should guide them to a safe and controlled descent to the floor, protecting their head. The Assistant should keep a firm hold on the gait belt and use proper body mechanics to ensure safety. Post-fall, the resident should be checked for injuries and the incident should be reported and documented according to protocol.
Step-by-step explanation:
If a resident begins to fall while a Nurse Assistant is ambulating them with a gait belt, the appropriate response would be to guide the resident to a controlled and safe descent to the floor, protecting the head from impact. The Nurse Assistant uses the gait belt and their body to slow down the fall and maintain the resident's safety as much as possible.
It is critical that a Nurse Assistant remains calm, keeps a firm grip on the gait belt, and ensures not to hold the resident too tightly to prevent harm, but tight enough to control the fall. Additionally, the Nurse Assistant should bend their knees to lower both themselves and the resident safely to the ground, rather than trying to prevent the fall by holding the resident up.
After the incident, the Nurse Assistant should check for injuries and report the fall according to the facility's protocols. It is also important to reassure the resident, as such incidents can be distressing. Every fall, even if there seems to be no injury, should be taken seriously and followed up with proper documentation and assessment.