Abigail Carter, age 80, injured her left knee and wrist ahen she fell on an icy sidewalk while on vacation in New York. She has been on your orthopedic and neurologic unit for several days. She has an extended history of cardiomyopathy, for which she receives furosemide (Lasix). Her vital signs are stable and she rates her pain as a 2 on a scale of 1 to 10 ( 10= worst pain); because Mrs. Carter has an increased risk for falling, her physician ordered physical therapy and cane walking instructions before discharge. Although, the physiotherapist has already initiated the cane-walking instructions before discharge, you will need to ambulate Mrs. Carter with her cane during your shift. While you are ambulating down the hall, she says, “oh dear! I feel dizzy.” She begins to lose her balance and falls towards you.
Medical Orders
- Physiotherapy for cane walking
- Ambulate every shift with cane assistance
- Lasix 20mg PO OD
- Potassium chloride 10mEq PO OD
- Lortab 10 one tab PO q4-6hrs PRN if pain
Questions:
1. Identify Mrs. Carter risk for falling.
2. Consider these factors, what special assessments and precautions should you implement before assisting her to ambulate and while assisting with ambulation?
3. Describe the actions you would implement when Mrs. Carter begins to fall.