Question

9-7 thinking it through
emily carlson is a nurse who works at thorsen rehabilitation center. one of her patients, john tucker, is
a very obese individual who is recovering from surgery. the physician overseeing mr. tucker’s care has
ordered that the patient be turned every two hours to prevent pressure sores. mr. tucker, however, finds
being confined to bed uncomfortable and has become irritable, demanding that he be turned every 15 or 30
minutes. one afternoon, when emily comes to check his vitals, mr. tucker demands that he “be turned
now!” no other staff or equipment is available to help emily carry out his request at this time.

1. should emily try to turn mr. tucker by herself? why or why not?

1. what might be the reasons for mr. tucker’s demands?

1. what else, if anything, can emily do to help mr. tucker?

thinking it through: emily carlson
use this activity to submit your assignment.

Explanation:

Question 1:

Emily should not try to turn Mr. Tucker by herself. From a nursing (Natural Science - Nursing) perspective, turning an obese patient alone poses risks: it can cause musculoskeletal injuries to Emily (due to improper body mechanics and heavy lifting) and may also lead to improper positioning or potential harm to Mr. Tucker (e.g., skin shear, joint strain). Nursing practice guidelines emphasize safe patient handling, requiring appropriate staff/equipment for moving obese patients to ensure safety for both nurse and patient.

Question 2:

Mr. Tucker’s demands could stem from multiple factors. Physiologically, his obesity and post - surgical state may increase discomfort (e.g., pressure on tissues, limited mobility), making frequent repositioning seem necessary for relief. Psychologically, being bed - confined can cause anxiety, irritability, and a loss of control, leading to exaggerated requests for attention/comfort. Also, he may not fully understand the medical rationale for the 2 - hour turning schedule and feels his comfort needs are not met.

Question 3:

Emily can: 1. Communicate empathetically with Mr. Tucker, explaining the safety reasons for the 2 - hour schedule and when help will be available to turn him. 2. Assess his comfort needs (e.g., adjust bedding, provide pillows for support, check for pain) and address them within medical guidelines. 3. Notify other staff or the physician about his increased discomfort and requests, to plan for additional support or adjust care as needed.

Answer:

Question 1:

No, Emily should not turn Mr. Tucker by herself. Reason: Turning an obese patient alone risks injury to Emily (musculoskeletal) and improper care/harm to Mr. Tucker; safe patient handling guidelines require appropriate help/equipment.

Question 2:

Reasons for Mr. Tucker’s demands: Physiological discomfort (obesity, post - surgery), psychological distress (bed - confinement anxiety, loss of control), and lack of understanding of the medical turning schedule.

Question 3:

Emily can: Empathize and explain the schedule, address comfort needs (bedding, pillows, pain assessment), and notify staff/physician about his situation.