The nurse, who is inspecting the knee of a patient who fell and reports stiffness, hears a grating sound with knee movement. Which of these actions is appropriate for the nurse to take?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Immobilizing the knee is appropriate because the grating sound indicates a possible injury to the joint and movement may further damage it. The patient should be immobilized and referred to a healthcare provider for further evaluation. Continuing to inspect the knee with movement or encouraging active range of motion may worsen the injury. Bending the knee rapidly until grating stops is not appropriate as it can cause further damage to the joint.

The Nurse, Who Is Inspecting the Knee of a Patient