The patient is weight bearing but has left-sided weakness following a left knee injury. The provider has instructed the nurse to educate the patient on the use of a cane. How does the nurse instruct the patient to use the cane?

Hold the cane on the right side and move it with the left leg. When utilizing a cane for weakness due to an injury, the cane is held on the uninjured side but is moved with the injured leg. Therefore, the patient with a left knee injury holds the cane on the right side but moves it with the left leg. It would be less safe to hold the cane on the same side as the injury. Holding the cane opposite and moving with the strong leg is unhelpful and unsafe.

The patient is weight bearing but has left-sided weakness followi...

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Basic Care and Comfort
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Category: Basic Care and Comfort
Difficulty: 4

Topics: Communication & Documentation Musculoskeletal

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