What is a common complication that rehabilitation nurses should monitor for in post-stroke patients?

What is a common complication that rehabilitation nurses should monitor for in post-stroke patients?

• A. Improved mobility
• B. Increased communication skills
• C. The risk of falls and pressure ulcers
• D. Enhanced cognitive functioning

Answer: (C)

Rehabilitation nurses play a crucial role in the recovery of post-stroke patients, and one of the significant concerns they must monitor is the risk of falls and pressure ulcers. After a stroke, a patient may experience motor impairments, balance issues, and reduced mobility, which contribute to an increased risk of falls. These factors not only jeopardize the patient's physical safety but can also lead to further complications and delays in recovery. Additionally, patients with impaired mobility are susceptible to pressure ulcers due to prolonged immobility. Pressure ulcers can develop when patients are unable to change positions independently, leading to skin breakdown. Therefore, ongoing assessment and proactive measures to prevent falls and skin integrity issues are critical components of care for post-stroke patients, ensuring their safety and promoting optimal rehabilitation outcomes. In contrast, the other options indicate improvements or positive aspects of recovery, which are not complications that require monitoring. Enhanced mobility, communication skills, and cognitive functioning are desired goals of rehabilitation but do not represent risks that nurses need to focus on.

Rehabilitation nurses play a crucial role in the recovery of post-stroke patients, and one of the significant concerns they must monitor is the risk of falls and pressure ulcers. After a stroke, a patient may experience motor impairments, balance issues, and reduced mobility, which contribute to an increased risk of falls. These factors not only jeopardize the patient's physical safety but can also lead to further complications and delays in recovery.

Additionally, patients with impaired mobility are susceptible to pressure ulcers due to prolonged immobility. Pressure ulcers can develop when patients are unable to change positions independently, leading to skin breakdown. Therefore, ongoing assessment and proactive measures to prevent falls and skin integrity issues are critical components of care for post-stroke patients, ensuring their safety and promoting optimal rehabilitation outcomes.

In contrast, the other options indicate improvements or positive aspects of recovery, which are not complications that require monitoring. Enhanced mobility, communication skills, and cognitive functioning are desired goals of rehabilitation but do not represent risks that nurses need to focus on.