All of the following are comfort devices used for cardiac and respiratory patients EXCEPT:

Appeared in: IGNOU PB Bsc Entrance-2023

Explanation

A bed cradle is a frame designed to keep the weight of bed linens off a patient's body, particularly the legs and feet.
Its primary use is for patients with burns, skin ulcers, fractures, or gout to prevent pain and irritation from friction.
This function does not directly assist with improving respiratory or cardiac function, making it the exception in the given list.

Option B: Pillows are incorrect because they are essential for positioning patients in Fowler's or orthopneic positions, which helps expand the lungs and ease breathing.
Option C: A back rest is incorrect because it is used to elevate the patient's head and chest (Fowler's position), which directly improves ventilation and reduces the workload on the heart.
Option D: A cardiac table is incorrect because it is specifically designed to facilitate the orthopneic (tripod) position, where a patient leans forward to maximize chest expansion during severe respiratory distress.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Identification of comfort and positioning devices for patients with cardiac and respiratory conditions as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Proper positioning is a critical nursing intervention for patients with heart failure, COPD, or asthma to alleviate dyspnea and improve oxygenation.
Nurses must be able to select and correctly use various comfort devices to meet individual patient needs, ensuring both comfort and therapeutic benefit.
What if? If a patient with severe COPD also had a non-healing ulcer on their foot, the nurse would need to use both a back rest/cardiac table for breathing support and a bed cradle to protect the ulcer, demonstrating how multiple devices can be used concurrently.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the core concept of the question: comfort devices for cardiac and respiratory patients.
Note the keyword 'EXCEPT'. This means you are looking for the device that does NOT fit the description.
Evaluate each option's primary function in relation to cardiac and respiratory support.
Pillows, back rests, and cardiac tables are all used to position the patient upright to ease breathing and reduce cardiac workload.
The bed cradle's function is to keep linens off the body, which is unrelated to respiratory or cardiac aid.
Therefore, the bed cradle is the exception and the correct answer.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Concept Tested: Identification of comfort and positioning devices for patients with cardiac and respiratory conditions.
Stem keywords: comfort devices, cardiac patients, respiratory patients
Lead-in keywords: EXCEPT
Negative lead-in flag: The question asks for the option that is an exception.

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E6 Nursing Fundamentals Taylor pp. 205-207, 328-330

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