A nurse at an extended-care facility is instructing a class of assistive personnel (AP) about the use of assistive devices during client ambulation.
Which of the following instructions should the nurse include about assisting clients who use a cane?

Choice A rationale
A client who has community-acquired pneumonia with copious respiratory secretions should be assigned to the private room. This is because pneumonia, especially with copious respiratory secretions, can be transmitted through the air, and therefore requires airborne precautions.
Choice B rationale
A client who has AIDS and is coughing up blood may not necessarily require a private room for airborne precautions. While AIDS is a serious condition, it is not primarily transmitted through the air. Instead, it is transmitted through direct contact with bodily fluids, particularly blood, semen, vaginal fluids, and breast milk.
Choice C rationale
A client who has Guillain-Barré syndrome and is on a ventilator would not necessarily require a private room for airborne precautions. Guillain-Barré syndrome is a neurological disorder, not an infectious disease, and it is not transmitted from person to person.
Choice D rationale

A client who has bronchitis and a tracheostomy may not necessarily require a private room for airborne precautions. While bronchitis can be caused by an infection, it is typically transmitted through direct contact or droplet transmission, not through the air.

Choice A rationale

The client should lift the walker and place it down in front of her. This is because lifting the walker provides stability and support as the client moves. It’s important for the client to move the walker first, then step forward to ensure balance and prevent falls.
Choice B rationale
Walking in front of the client to guide her in moving the walker is not the best practice. The client should be allowed to set the pace and the nurse should be beside or slightly behind the client to provide assistance if needed.
Choice C rationale
Having the client move one leg forward with the walker is not the most effective way to use a walker. Both legs should move forward after the walker has been placed down in front of the client.
Choice D rationale
Making sure that the upper bar of the walker is level with the client’s waist is a good practice, but it’s not the best answer for this question. The height of the walker should be adjusted so that the handles are at the level of the client’s wrists when the client’s arms are hanging down. This allows the client to maintain a slight bend in their elbows when holding the handles.