Preparation for Patient Care

What fundamental skills are important when preparing for patient care?

Managing the environment, using proper body mechanics, and communicating effectively.

Why is planning important before patient care?

Planning increases the likelihood that care will be safe, efficient, and effective.

What is the highest priority during patient care?

Patient and staff safety.

When should preparation of the treatment environment begin?

At the end of the previous treatment session.

What should be done with equipment after a treatment session?

Clean it and return it to its proper location.

What should be done with used supplies?

Dispose of them appropriately.

What should be done with unused supplies?

Return them to their proper location.

What should be done when consumable supplies are running low?

Alert the appropriate person responsible for purchasing supplies.

What should be done with malfunctioning or unsafe equipment?

Tag it, remove it from use, and report it immediately.

Who is responsible for maintaining a safe and clean environment?

Everyone.

What housekeeping tasks should be completed after patient use?

Wipe down mats, change linens, clear the floor, and ensure there is enough room for safe treatment.

When should the treatment area be prepared?

Before the patient arrives.

What supplies should be readily available before treatment?

Extra linens and pillows, along with any other supplies needed for the planned treatment.

What should be within reach if the patient is left unattended?

The call bell.

Why should the therapist avoid leaving a patient while positioning them?

The therapist should have necessary supplies ready so the patient does not have to be left mid-positioning.

What are the five basic body mechanics rules?

Keep the load close, use an appropriate base of support, use back muscles isometrically, lift with the legs, and do not twist.

What does it mean to keep the load close?

The center of gravity of the person or object being lifted or lowered should be close to the lifter.

What is the center of gravity?

The place in the body on which gravity pulls the mass.

What is the base of support (BOS)?

The area within the outermost boundaries of a person's contact with the supporting surface.

What should you avoid if your feet must move during a lift or lower?

Do not cross your extremities.

What is an isometric contraction?

A skeletal muscle contraction that occurs without joint movement.

Why are the trunk extensors and abdominals used isometrically during lifting?

To create a rigid spine.

What should be avoided when using the trunk muscles during lifting?

The Valsalva maneuver.

What does lifting with the legs involve?

Squatting to lower or raise the body while maintaining an erect trunk.

Why should twisting be avoided during lifting or lowering?

To avoid spinal rotation.

Where should the therapist stand when guarding a patient?

Behind and slightly to the side of the patient, facing the direction of movement.

What should be used when guarding a patient?

A large base of support.

What is a gait belt?

A safety device placed on a patient before transfers and gait training.

When should a gait belt be used?

It should be used properly and under appropriate conditions for transfers and gait training.

How should verbal instructions be given to a patient?

Use simple, informative, and understandable language.

What should instructions describe before a task?

The general sequence of the task.

What should the therapist explain about the patient's expected response?

The therapist should explain what responses are expected during the task.

What should the therapist do if unsure whether the patient understands the instructions?

Ask the patient to repeat the instructions or sequence.

What is the purpose of draping?

To cover the patient while allowing safe and effective treatment.

What does proper draping protect?

The patient's modesty, warmth, wounds, scars, residual limbs, and clothing while exposing only the specific body segment being treated.

Why are hospital gowns not ideal for physical therapy?

They are designed primarily to provide nursing access rather than PT access.

What can be used with a hospital gown if needed?

A belt or suspenders.

What patient equipment must the therapist always be aware of?

IV lines, chest tubes, catheters, respirators, and cardiac monitors.

What should the therapist do with the patient's equipment setup?

Do not disturb the setup; any disruption requires immediate attention.

How can tubes and lines affect patient movement?

They may limit movement.

What is an IV line?

A needle or tube inserted into a vein to provide medications or fluids.

What is a catheter?

A flexible tube inserted through a narrow opening into a body cavity, especially the bladder, to remove fluid.

What is negative pressure wound therapy?

A non-invasive wound care modality used to facilitate healing and manage drainage.

What is another name for negative pressure wound therapy?

Wound V.A.C.

What should be checked before moving a patient with tubes or lines?

Check how much movement is allowed by the tubes and lines.

What should be avoided when moving a patient with tubes and lines?

Lines should not become tangled, pinched, kinked, stretched, or pulled out.

What should be used to transport a patient who cannot ambulate?

A wheelchair or gurney.

What should be done with wheelchair brakes before transferring a patient?

Lock the wheelchair brakes.

How should a patient be prepared for transport?

The patient should be properly draped, all lines and tubes should go with the patient, and additional pads or pillows should be used as needed.

What factors affect how a wheelchair is moved over a curb?

Curb height, the size and weight of the patient and wheelchair, and the therapist's height and strength.

How should an average curb be descended with a wheelchair?

Backward, because this creates less stress.

How should an average curb be ascended with a wheelchair?

Forward, because this creates less stress.

How should a wheelchair be positioned when going through a doorway that opens away from the patient?

The patient faces away from the door while the therapist walks backward pulling the wheelchair.

What does the therapist do when a doorway opens away from the patient?

The therapist walks backward while pulling the wheelchair, holds the door with a hand or foot, and turns the patient through the doorway.

How should a wheelchair be positioned when a doorway opens toward the patient?

The patient is positioned parallel to the doorway.

What does the therapist do when a doorway opens toward the patient?

The therapist opens and holds the door, then pushes the wheelchair forward.

What is a wheelchair wheelie?

Lifting the front wheels of a wheelchair to ascend or descend a curb.

When are wheelchair wheelies necessary?

When a patient needs to ascend or descend a curb independently and there is no ramp available.

How should a patient be protected while learning wheelchair wheelies?

The patient should be guarded while learning the skill.