Editing Fundamentals of Nursing – LPN Practice Questions (section)

==Question 2==
Before assisting a patient into a tub bath, the licensed practical nurse should take which actions? '''Select all that apply.'''
# Check the water temperature with a thermometer or the inner wrist before the patient enters.
# Ensure a nonskid mat is in place and the grab bars are secure.
# Leave the patient alone in the tub if the patient asks for privacy, even if the patient is weak.
# Place the call light within the patient's reach.
# Assist the patient with transfer using a gait belt if the patient is unsteady.
# Fill the tub with the hottest tolerable water to promote circulation.

'''Answer:''' 1, 2, 4, and 5.

''Rationale:'' Verifying water temperature prevents burns, particularly in older adults and patients with diabetes or neuropathy whose thermal sensation is reduced. Nonskid surfaces, secure grab bars, an accessible call light, and gait belt assisted transfer all address the high fall risk of a wet bathroom. Option 3 is unsafe; a weak or unsteady patient must not be left alone, and privacy can be preserved by staying just outside the curtain within hearing distance. Option 6 is unsafe and risks scald injury.