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Copyright © 2011 by Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. Skill Checklists for Taylor's Clinical Nursing Skills:
Skill Checklists for Taylor's Clinical Nursing Skills:
A Nursing Process Approach, 3rd edition
Name Date
Unit Position
Instructor/Evaluator: Position
SKILL 6-3
Leg Exercises
Goal:The patient the patient and/or significant other verbalizes
an understanding of the instructions related to leg exercises
and is able to demonstrate the activities. Comments
- Check the patient’s chart for the type of surgery and
review the medical orders. - Gather the necessary supplies and bring to the bedside
stand or overbed table. - Perform hand hygiene and put on PPE, if indicated.
- Identify the patient.
- Close curtains around bed and close the door to the room,
if possible. Explain what you are going to do and why you
are going to do it to the patient. - Identify the patient’s learning needs. Identify the patient’s
level of knowledge regarding leg exercises. If the patient
has had surgery before, ask about this experience. - Explain the rationale for performing leg exercises.
- Provide teaching regarding leg exercises.
a. Assist or ask the patient to sit up (semi-Fowler’s position)
and explain to the patient that you will first demonstrate,
and then coach him/her to exercise one leg at a time.
b. Straighten the patient’s knee, raise the foot, extend the
lower leg, and hold this position for a few seconds.
Lower the entire leg. Practice this exercise with the
other leg.
c. Assist or ask the patient to point the toes of both legs
toward the foot of the bed, then relax them. Next, flex
or pull the toes toward the chin.
d. Assist or ask the patient to keep legs extended and to
make circles with both ankles, first circling to the left
and then to the right. Instruct the patient to repeat
these exercises three times. - Validate the patient’s understanding of information. Ask
the patient to give a return demonstration. Ask the patient
if he or she has any questions. Encourage the patient to
practice the activities and ask questions, if necessary. - Remove PPE, if used. Perform hand hygiene.
ExcellentSatisfactoryNeeds Practice