Mobility & Transfer Techniques Flashcards

When using a gait belt to assist a client with transferring from bed to wheelchair, where should the gait belt be placed?

Answer: Around the client's waist over clothing

A gait belt should be placed around the client's waist over clothing to provide a secure and safe grip for the aide during transfers.

When transferring a client from a bed to a wheelchair, the client's stronger or unaffected side should be positioned:

Answer: Closest to the wheelchair

The client's stronger or unaffected side should be closest to the wheelchair so they can use their stronger limbs to assist with the pivot and transfer.

Proper body mechanics for a personal care aide when lifting or transferring a client includes:

Answer: Bending at the knees and keeping the back straight

Proper body mechanics require bending at the knees with a straight back to use the stronger leg muscles, reducing the risk of back injury.

Before transferring a client from bed to a chair, a personal care aide should first:

Answer: Explain the procedure to the client and obtain their cooperation

Explaining the procedure and obtaining the client's cooperation respects their dignity, reduces anxiety, and helps ensure a safer transfer.

A client has weakness on the left side of their body. When assisting them to walk, the aide should stand:

Answer: On the client's left (weaker) side

The aide should stand on the client's weaker side to provide support where it is most needed and to help prevent falls toward that side.

What is the primary purpose of a mechanical lift (such as a Hoyer lift) in client care?

Answer: To safely transfer clients who are unable to bear weight

Mechanical lifts are designed for clients who cannot bear weight, enabling safe transfers while reducing injury risk to both the client and the aide.

During a bed-to-wheelchair transfer, the wheelchair should be positioned:

Answer: At a 30-45 degree angle to the bed on the client's stronger side

Positioning the wheelchair at a 30-45 degree angle on the client's stronger side minimizes transfer distance and allows the client to pivot using their stronger limbs.

How often should a bedridden client be repositioned to prevent pressure ulcers?

Answer: Every 1-2 hours

Clients should be repositioned every 1-2 hours to relieve pressure on bony prominences and prevent pressure ulcers from forming.

Range of motion exercises performed by a personal care aide who moves the client's limbs without the client's active effort are called:

Answer: Passive ROM exercises

When the aide moves the client's limbs through the full range of motion without the client actively participating, the exercises are classified as passive ROM.

A personal care aide notices that a client's leg is unusually stiff and difficult to move during range of motion exercises. What should the aide do?

Answer: Stop the exercises and report the observation to the supervisor

Unusual stiffness or resistance during ROM exercises could indicate a medical problem and should be reported to a supervisor immediately rather than forcing movement.

Which of the following is the correct technique when assisting a client to ambulate (walk)?

Answer: Walk slightly behind and to the weaker side, holding the gait belt

Walking slightly behind and to the weaker side while holding the gait belt gives the aide the best position to provide support and prevent falls.

A client begins to fall while being assisted to walk. The personal care aide should:

Answer: Guide the client to the floor in a controlled manner to minimize injury

Guiding the client to the floor in a controlled manner reduces the risk of serious injury compared to attempting to stop the fall abruptly, which can injure both the client and aide.

When using a wheelchair for client transport, which safety measure must be performed before the client sits down or stands up?

Answer: Lock the wheelchair brakes to prevent the chair from rolling

Locking the wheelchair brakes before any transfer is the most critical safety measure because it prevents the chair from rolling unexpectedly.

The logrolling technique is used when:

Answer: A client must be turned in bed while keeping the spine in alignment

Logrolling keeps the spine in alignment by moving the entire body as one unit, which is critical for clients with spinal injuries or conditions.

Which assistive mobility device provides the most support for a client who has significant balance and weight-bearing difficulties?

Answer: A walker

A walker provides the most support for clients with significant balance difficulties because it offers a stable, four-point base of support.

When lowering a client back into bed after sitting at the edge, the aide should:

Answer: Support the client's head and legs while slowly lowering them onto the bed

Supporting the client's head and legs while slowly lowering them ensures a safe and controlled movement that prevents injury to both the client and aide.

A personal care aide is helping a client with one-sided weakness (hemiplegia) get dressed. Which limb should be dressed first?

Answer: The weaker limb first, then dress the stronger limb

The weaker limb is dressed first because it has less range of motion and flexibility; the stronger limb can be maneuvered more easily afterward.

When applying a gait belt, how should the aide verify it is properly secured?

Answer: The aide should be able to slide two fingers underneath the belt

A properly secured gait belt allows two fingers to slide underneath, confirming it is snug enough to hold without being uncomfortably restrictive.

In the context of client mobility, what does 'dangling' refer to?

Answer: Allowing a client to sit at the edge of the bed before standing up

Dangling refers to having the client sit at the edge of the bed to gradually adjust to an upright position before standing, which helps prevent dizziness from a sudden change in position.

Which of the following is a sign that a client is experiencing orthostatic hypotension during a transfer from lying to standing?

Answer: Dizziness, lightheadedness, or near-fainting

Orthostatic hypotension occurs when blood pressure drops upon standing, causing dizziness, lightheadedness, or near-fainting that can lead to a fall.