Skill Checklists for Taylor's Clinical Nursing Skills: A Nursing Process Approach

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Copyright © 2011 by Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. Skill Checklists for Taylor's Clinical Nursing Skills:

SKILL 9-7

Assisting a Patient With Ambulation (Continued)

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10. If you are the only nurse assisting, position yourself to the
    side and slightly behind the patient. Support the patient by
    the waist or transfer belt.
    When two nurses assist, position yourself to the side and
    slightly behind the patient, supporting the patient by the
    waist or gait belt. Have the other nurse carry or manage
    equipment or provide additional support from the other
    side.
    Alternatively, when two nurses assist, stand at the patient’s
    sides (one nurse on each side) with near hands grasping the
    gait belt and far hands holding the patient’s lower arm or
    hand.


11. Take several steps forward with the patient. Continue to
    assess the patient’s strength and balance. Remind the
    patient to stand erect.


12. Continue with ambulation for the planned distance and
    time. Return the patient to the bed or chair based on the
    patient’s tolerance and condition.


13. Remove gait belts. Clean transfer aids per facility policy,
    if not indicated for single patient use. Remove gloves and
    any other PPE, if used. Perform hand hygiene.

ExcellentSatisfactoryNeeds Practice