RPN Safety and Mobility Needs 2

Question 1

A patient is prescribed a walker for ambulation. Which instruction is most important when teaching the patient to use a standard walker?

Accepted Answer

Place both hands on the walker and advance it 12–18 inches ahead before stepping

Answer

The walker should be advanced 12–18 inches ahead so the patient steps into it, maintaining center of gravity within the base of support.

Question 2

When assisting a patient to transfer from bed to wheelchair, the nurse should position the wheelchair at what angle to the bed?

Accepted Answer

45 degrees

Answer

Positioning the wheelchair at a 45-degree angle to the bed minimizes the pivot distance and reduces fall risk during the transfer.

Question 3

A patient on bed rest develops redness over the sacrum that blanches with pressure. The nurse documents this as which stage of pressure injury?

Accepted Answer

Stage 1

Answer

Stage 1 pressure injuries present as intact skin with non-blanchable redness; blanchable erythema indicates the area is still at risk but not yet a true pressure injury.

Question 4

Which action by the nurse best reduces shear forces on a bedridden patient?

Accepted Answer

Elevating the head of the bed no higher than 30 degrees

Answer

Limiting head-of-bed elevation to 30 degrees or less prevents the patient from sliding down and creating shear forces against the sacrum.

Question 5

The nurse is caring for a patient with left-sided hemiplegia. When helping the patient walk with a cane, where should the cane be held?

Accepted Answer

In the right (stronger) hand

Answer

The cane is held on the stronger side to provide a wider base of support and offload weight from the weaker extremity.

RPN - Registered Practical Nurse Practice Test

RPN - Registered Practical Nurse Practice Test

RPN Safety and Mobility Needs 2