A nurse is preparing to lift a box of supplies in the supply room. Which of the following body mechanics should the nurse plan to use?

A. A footboard is a device placed at the end of the bed and it's used to prevent the feet from dropping towards the bed while the patient is lying down.
B. While a footboard can provide some support and prevent the client's feet from hanging off the edge of the bed, its primary purpose is not to prevent pressure ulcers on the foot. Pressure ulcers are more likely to occur on bony prominences such as the heels or sacrum.

C. Plantar flexion refers to the downward flexing of the foot at the ankle joint. In immobile clients, prolonged plantar flexion can lead to contractures or foot drop. A footboard helps maintain the foot in a neutral or slightly dorsiflexed position, which helps prevent plantar flexion contractures.
D. A footboard is not typically used for isotonic exercises, which involve active movement against resistance. Instead, it serves a more passive role in maintaining foot position and preventing issues related to immobility.

A. This instruction is more appropriate for female clients performing perineal hygiene before providing a clean-catch urine specimen. For straight catheterization, the nurse typically performs sterile technique, including cleansing the urethral meatus with an antiseptic solution as part of the procedure. The client's perineal area may be cleansed if necessary, but the primary focus is on maintaining sterile technique during catheter insertion.
B. When performing straight catheterization, the nurse inserts a sterile catheter into the client's bladder via the urethra to obtain urine directly. The urine is collected from the catheter itself as it drains into a sterile specimen container. It's essential to avoid touching the catheter's port or allowing it to come into contact with non-sterile surfaces to prevent contamination.
C. When inserting a Foley catheter (indwelling catheter), sterile water is used to inflate the balloon at the tip of the catheter after insertion into the bladder. For straight catheterization, a balloon is not typically inflated because the catheter is removed immediately after urine is obtained. Therefore, this step is not applicable in this context.
D. It is crucial to use a sterile specimen container to collect urine obtained via straight catheterization. This ensures that the specimen remains uncontaminated and suitable for culture and sensitivity testing, which requires accurate identification of any bacteria present in the urine.