Required Artifact:
1. Knock on the door, enter the room and introduce self using name and title
2. Verbalize the performance of hand hygiene
3. Explain care plans to patient before beginning task and continue to communicate with patient during care
4. Identify patient as a fall-risk patient by verbalizing they look for the following items: Yellow no-slip socks, Yellow wristband, Sunflower (fall risk indicator) on or near the doorway
5. Verbalize that they would ask the patient’s RN the following questions before ambulating the patient: Can I get your patient up now? Which ambulatory aids do I need to use with this patient? What else do I need to know about the patient’s status?
6. Gather materials: Gait belt
7. Assess the room and patient by verbalizing they look for the following items: All lines connected to the patient, Obstacles that would pose a threat to the patient’s safety during ambulation, Patient has non-slip socks or shoes on
8. Assist the patient to scoot to the edge of the chair with their feet flat on the floor
9. Make direct eye contact with patient and ask the patient if they are feeling dizzy or lightheaded (if patient answers “yes”, assist the patient to sit back down, press the call light to notify the RN and do not leave patient unattended)
10. Apply the gait belt to patient, secure the belt so that only fingers laid flat against the patient fit under the belt, and check that the belt does not catch skin or skin folds (e. g.: breast tissue or abdominal folds)
11. Use proper body mechanics when assisting patient to stand by: Keeping a low center of gravity by bending the knees, Not bending at the waist, Creating a wide base of support and distributing weight evenly, Keeping back straight and maintaining proper alignment
12. Use a count of “1, 2, 3” to signal the patient, assisting them to a standing position with one hand on the gait belt and one hand on the patient
13. Make direct eye contact with patient and ask the patient if they are feeling dizzy or lightheaded (if patient answers “yes”, assist the patient to sit back down, press the call light to notify the RN and do not leave patient unattended)
14. Assist the patient to walk outside of the room by walking alongside and slightly behind the patient, holding onto the gait belt (may have an arm around the patient’s back if desired)
15. Remain close to a wall or other supportive structures and communicate with the patient throughout the walk, Monitor for signs of pain, fatigue or dizziness. Stop as necessary if patient experiences any of these symptoms
16. Assist the patient to walk back into the room to the chair while walking alongside and slightly behind them, holding onto the gait belt (may have an arm around the patient’s back if desired)
17. Remove gait belt from patient
Reflection:
In order to be successful with this task, I constantly had both the patients safety and my own personal safety in mind. I made sure that the patient I was assisting would not fall by making sure they felt stable. I would constantly be asking the patient how they felt throughout the whole process, whether they felt lightheaded or nauseated. In addition to frequently asking the patient how they felt, I would also have a gait belt around them the entire time in case if for any reason they felt as if they were going to faint. In the case of, I would be able catch them as safely as possible before they reach the ground. I made sure that lines (if any) attached to the patient did not increase the risk of falling by making sure to bring the device along with the patient (i.e., if it's an IV pole, I'd bring the IV pole with the patient), keeping it at a safe distance away from the patient.
1. Knock on the door, enter the room and introduce self using name and title
2. Verbalize the performance of hand hygiene
3. Explain care plans to patient before beginning task and continue to communicate with patient during care
4. Identify patient as a fall-risk patient by verbalizing they look for the following items: Yellow no-slip socks, Yellow wristband, Sunflower (fall risk indicator) on or near the doorway
5. Verbalize that they would ask the patient’s RN the following questions before ambulating the patient: Can I get your patient up now? Which ambulatory aids do I need to use with this patient? What else do I need to know about the patient’s status?
6. Gather materials: Gait belt
7. Assess the room and patient by verbalizing they look for the following items: All lines connected to the patient, Obstacles that would pose a threat to the patient’s safety during ambulation, Patient has non-slip socks or shoes on
8. Assist the patient to scoot to the edge of the chair with their feet flat on the floor
9. Make direct eye contact with patient and ask the patient if they are feeling dizzy or lightheaded (if patient answers “yes”, assist the patient to sit back down, press the call light to notify the RN and do not leave patient unattended)
10. Apply the gait belt to patient, secure the belt so that only fingers laid flat against the patient fit under the belt, and check that the belt does not catch skin or skin folds (e. g.: breast tissue or abdominal folds)
11. Use proper body mechanics when assisting patient to stand by: Keeping a low center of gravity by bending the knees, Not bending at the waist, Creating a wide base of support and distributing weight evenly, Keeping back straight and maintaining proper alignment
12. Use a count of “1, 2, 3” to signal the patient, assisting them to a standing position with one hand on the gait belt and one hand on the patient
13. Make direct eye contact with patient and ask the patient if they are feeling dizzy or lightheaded (if patient answers “yes”, assist the patient to sit back down, press the call light to notify the RN and do not leave patient unattended)
14. Assist the patient to walk outside of the room by walking alongside and slightly behind the patient, holding onto the gait belt (may have an arm around the patient’s back if desired)
15. Remain close to a wall or other supportive structures and communicate with the patient throughout the walk, Monitor for signs of pain, fatigue or dizziness. Stop as necessary if patient experiences any of these symptoms
16. Assist the patient to walk back into the room to the chair while walking alongside and slightly behind them, holding onto the gait belt (may have an arm around the patient’s back if desired)
17. Remove gait belt from patient
Reflection:
In order to be successful with this task, I constantly had both the patients safety and my own personal safety in mind. I made sure that the patient I was assisting would not fall by making sure they felt stable. I would constantly be asking the patient how they felt throughout the whole process, whether they felt lightheaded or nauseated. In addition to frequently asking the patient how they felt, I would also have a gait belt around them the entire time in case if for any reason they felt as if they were going to faint. In the case of, I would be able catch them as safely as possible before they reach the ground. I made sure that lines (if any) attached to the patient did not increase the risk of falling by making sure to bring the device along with the patient (i.e., if it's an IV pole, I'd bring the IV pole with the patient), keeping it at a safe distance away from the patient.
