The nurse is teaching a client with debilitating rheumatoid arthritis about home safety. Which statement should the nurse include?

Choice A reason: Providing active range of motion (ROM) is not a treatment that the nurse can perform for a quadriplegic client. Active ROM means that the client moves their own joints without assistance. A quadriplegic client has paralysis of all four limbs and cannot move their joints voluntarily.

Choice B reason: Providing passive range of motion (ROM) is a treatment that the nurse can perform for a quadriplegic client. Passive ROM means that the nurse moves the client's joints through their full range of motion without resistance. This helps prevent joint contracture, which is the loss of joint movement and flexibility due to muscle shortening and stiffness. It also helps maintain joint mobility, which is the ability of the joint to move smoothly and freely.

Choice C reason: Turning the client every 2 hours is not a treatment that the nurse can perform to decrease the risk of joint contracture and promote joint mobility. Turning the client every 2 hours is a preventive measure to avoid pressure ulcers, which are skin injuries caused by prolonged pressure on the skin. It does not directly affect the joint function or movement.

Choice D reason: Administering glucosamine supplements is not a treatment that the nurse can perform to decrease the risk of joint contracture and promote joint mobility. Glucosamine supplements are dietary supplements that may help reduce the pain and inflammation of osteoarthritis, which is a degenerative joint disease that causes the breakdown of the cartilage and bone in the joints. It does not affect the muscle or nerve function or movement.

Choice A reason: Color is an important indicator of the blood flow and oxygenation to the affected extremity. The nurse should compare the color of the skin, nails, and mucous membranes of the affected and unaffected extremities and look for any signs of pallor, cyanosis, or mottling. These signs can indicate ischemia, hypoxia, or impaired circulation, which can lead to tissue damage or necrosis.

Choice B reason: Temperature is another important indicator of the blood flow and oxygenation to the affected extremity. The nurse should compare the temperature of the skin of the affected and unaffected extremities by palpating with the back of the hand and look for any signs of warmth or coolness. These signs can indicate inflammation, infection, or reduced perfusion, which can affect the healing process or cause complications.

Choice C reason: Ecchymosis is not an indicator of the neurovascular status of the affected extremity. Ecchymosis is the discoloration of the skin caused by bleeding under the skin, which can result from trauma, surgery, or anticoagulant therapy. Ecchymosis is expected after an ORIF of a femur fracture and does not necessarily indicate a problem with the blood flow or oxygenation to the extremity.

Choice D reason: Skin integrity is not an indicator of the neurovascular status of the affected extremity. Skin integrity is the condition of the skin and its ability to resist damage, infection, or breakdown. Skin integrity can be affected by factors such as pressure, friction, moisture, or foreign bodies. The nurse should assess the skin integrity of the affected extremity and look for any signs of wounds, ulcers, or infections, but these signs do not reflect the neurovascular status of the extremity.

Choice E reason: Sensation is an important indicator of the nerve function and innervation of the affected extremity. The nurse should assess the sensation of the affected extremity by asking the client to report any numbness, tingling, or pain, or by testing the client's response to light touch, pressure, or temperature. These signs can indicate nerve damage, compression, or irritation, which can affect the mobility and function of the extremity.