When dangling the patient at the bedside, monitor for:

ESIC Nursing Officer - 2019 (Shift-2)

Nursing Foundation

Easy

Appeared in: ESIC Nursing Officer - 2019 (Shift-2)

Explanation

Dangling is a nursing intervention where a patient sits on the edge of the bed before standing to help their cardiovascular system adjust to the change in position.
The primary risk associated with changing position from supine to upright is orthostatic (postural) hypotension, a sudden drop in blood pressure.
The main symptoms of orthostatic hypotension are dizziness and light-headedness due to temporarily reduced blood flow to the brain.
Monitoring for orthostatic hypotension and its key symptom, dizziness, is the most critical safety check during this procedure to prevent falls.

Option A: Fever is a systemic response to infection or inflammation, not a result of the minimal physical effort involved in dangling.
Option B: This option lists symptoms (visual disturbances, dizziness) but fails to name the underlying medical condition, which is orthostatic hypotension. The correct answer is more precise as it identifies the cause.
Option C: Malignant hypertension is a severe, rapid increase in blood pressure. Dangling is associated with a risk of blood pressure dropping (hypotension), not rising to dangerously high levels.

Visual 1: Diagram - A step-by-step illustration of how to safely assist a patient with dangling, showing the nurse's position and support.
Visual 2: Infographic - A chart defining orthostatic hypotension with the specific blood pressure drop criteria (≥20 mmHg systolic, ≥10 mmHg diastolic) and listing common signs and symptoms.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: Use the key finding related to Patient safety during mobilization to guide bedside assessment, documentation, and the next nursing action.
Fall prevention is a major patient safety goal. Correctly monitoring patients during position changes like dangling is a fundamental nursing skill to prevent falls caused by orthostatic hypotension.
Nurses must educate patients, especially those at high risk (elderly, on antihypertensives), to change positions slowly and call for assistance before getting out of bed.
What if? If the patient is taking a beta-blocker (e.g., metoprolol), the risk for orthostatic hypotension is increased because the medication can prevent the heart rate from increasing to compensate for the position change. The nurse must be extra vigilant in this scenario.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the key term in the question: 'dangling'. Recall that this is a nursing procedure related to patient mobilization.
Next, think about the purpose and risks of dangling. Its purpose is to help a patient transition from a lying to a standing position safely.
The primary physiological risk of moving to an upright position after bed rest is a sudden drop in blood pressure.
Identify the medical term for this drop in blood pressure: orthostatic (or postural) hypotension.
Evaluate the options. Look for the option that correctly identifies this primary risk and its associated symptoms.
Option 4, 'Orthostatic hypotension and dizziness,' directly names the condition and its most common symptom, making it the most complete and accurate answer.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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