COPE Health Scholars Practice Test

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What should you do before ambulating a patient?

Ask if they have walked within the last 12 hours
Check their vital signs
Provide them with a walker
Adjust the bed height

The correct answer is: Ask if they have walked within the last 12 hours

Before ambulating a patient, it’s critical to assess their recent activity level to ensure their safety and readiness for movement. Asking if they have walked within the last 12 hours helps determine their current mobility status, which can influence their ability to safely ambulate. This information is essential, as patients who have not been mobile for a while may require additional support or may not be ready to walk due to weakness, fatigue, or other medical considerations. While checking vital signs is an important aspect of patient safety, it is typically more relevant when there are concerns about the patient's condition. Providing a walker is a supportive action, but it should be based on the patient's assessed needs and their level of mobility. Adjusting the bed height is important for safe pivoting to a standing position, but it is secondary to assessing the patient's ability to ambulate. Overall, understanding the patient's recent walking experience directly informs the care provider's approach to ambulating the patient safely and effectively.