Question

A nurse is assessing the range of motion of a client's hands. The nurse should provide which of the following instructions to assess abduction and adduction of the client's fingers?

A) 'Spread your fingers apart and then bring them back together.'
B) 'Curl your fingers into a fist and then open them wide.'
C) 'Rotate your wrists in a circular motion.'
D) 'Bend your fingers downward and then lift them upward.'"

Answer 1

A nurse should instruct a client to 'Spread your fingers apart and then bring them back together' to assess abduction and adduction of the fingers.

Step-by-step explanation:

To assess abduction and adduction of a client's fingers, a nurse should provide the following instruction: 'Spread your fingers apart and then bring them back together.' This corresponds to option A) 'Spread your fingers apart and then bring them back together.' Abduction is the motion that moves a limb or part away from the midline of the body or apart from other body parts. When it comes to the fingers, abduction refers to spreading the fingers out away from the centerline of the hand. Conversely, adduction brings the fingers back together towards the centerline of the hand. It is important to note that this functional assessment does not involve bending the fingers into a fist or rotating the wrists, which pertain to different movements.