A 14-year-old adolescent with moderate cognitive impairment is admitted for knee surgery. During the rehabilitation period, the nurse's first nursing action is to
Explanation
• Obtaining information about the adolescent's usual routine at home helps in providing suggestions in modifying the hospital routine (when in doubt and without risks to ABCs, consider the assessment option).
• Maintaining a normal routine in the hospital helps minimize the amount of stress to which the adolescent is exposed and helps her adjust to hospitalization.
Incorrect options:
• Using the child’s own personal-care items is important to help promote a more familiar environment for self-care. However, the child's normal routine needs to be assessed first to adapt the hospital routine appropriately and determine what would be appropriate to bring in.
• Discharge planning begins on admission, but discharge teaching is left until the patient is ready to go home.
• Encouraging the mother to have family members and friends visit is important, but assessments are a higher priority.