Brunner & Suddarth's Textbook of Medical-Surgical Nursing 14e (Hinkle 2017) - Principles and Practices of Rehabilitation Related

Review Brunner & Suddarth's Textbook of Medical-Surgical Nursing 14e (Hinkle 2017) - Principles and Practices of Rehabilitation related questions and content

You are the nurse providing care for a patient who has limited mobility after a stroke. What would you do to assess the patient for contractures?

  • A. Assess the patients deep tendon reflexes (DTRs).
  • B. Assess the patients muscle size.
  • C. Assess the patient for joint pain.
  • D. Assess the patients range of motion.
Correct Answer: D

Rationale: Each joint of the body has a normal range of motion. To assess a patient for contractures, the nurse should assess whether the patient can complete the full range of motion. Assessing DTRs, muscle size, or joint pain do not reveal the presence or absence of contractures.