A nurse is providing a handoff report to the oncoming shift nurse. Which of the following actions should the nurse take to ensure continuity of client care?

A. Reposition the client every 3 hr: Repositioning the client every 3 hours is crucial to prevent pressure ulcers, especially since the client has decreased mobility. Frequent repositioning helps reduce the risk of skin breakdown and maintains circulation.

B. Place the client on a donut-shaped cushion: A donut-shaped cushion is not recommended for preventing pressure ulcers. It can increase pressure on the tissue, leading to further complications. A more effective intervention is use of pressure-redistribution surfaces.

C. Elevate the head of the bed to 45°: Elevating the head of the bed can increase pressure on the sacral area and can be uncomfortable for clients with mobility and incontinence issues. The head of the bed should be elevated only when necessary for breathing or comfort, not as a routine practice.

D. Request a consult with a registered dietitian: The client has decreased intake and may be at risk for malnutrition or dehydration. A dietitian’s input is essential to assess nutritional needs, especially for a client with diabetes and decreased mobility, to ensure proper healing and management.

E. Provide a support pressure-redistribution surface: A support pressure-redistribution surface is crucial for this client to reduce the risk of pressure ulcers. These surfaces help alleviate pressure on bony prominences and distribute the body weight evenly to prevent tissue damage.

F. Perform a skin risk assessment weekly: Skin risk assessments should be done more frequently than weekly, especially for a client with decreased mobility, incontinence, and diabetes. Daily or at least twice-weekly assessments are needed to monitor for early signs of skin breakdown.

G. Use a moisture barrier ointment after cleaning the client's skin: Using a moisture barrier ointment is essential for protecting the skin, especially since the client has urinary and fecal incontinence. This will help prevent skin irritation and breakdown caused by exposure to moisture.

A. Prop the feet up: Proping the feet up may not be effective in preventing plantar flexion contractures, as it does not provide sustained support to keep the feet in a neutral position. Plantar flexion can still occur with this position.

B. Apply an abduction pillow to the legs: An abduction pillow is used to keep the hips in a neutral position, not to prevent plantar flexion contractures. It is useful for preventing hip contractures but not specifically for the feet.

C. Use a trochanter roll: A trochanter roll helps prevent external rotation of the hip joint, not plantar flexion of the feet. It is used for positioning to prevent hip complications, but it does not address foot position or contracture prevention.

D. Use foot splints: Foot splints are designed to keep the feet in a neutral or dorsiflexed position, preventing the toes from pointing downward (plantar flexion). This is the most effective intervention to prevent plantar flexion contractures in an immobile client.