After completing care for a resident, which action is most important for the nursing assistant to take before leaving the room to prevent falls?
- A.Turn off all lights to encourage the resident to rest
- B.Lower the bed to its lowest position and ensure the call light is within reach
- C.Raise all four side rails to the fully raised position
- D.Lock the resident's room door from the outside
Show answer & rationale
Correct answer
B. Lower the bed to its lowest position and ensure the call light is within reach
Rationale
B is correct: Lowering the bed to its lowest position reduces the distance to the floor if a resident attempts to get up unassisted, and placing the call light within reach gives residents a safe way to summon help before attempting to get up. Both are essential fall prevention measures. A is incorrect: Turning off lights increases fall risk if the resident needs to get up; adequate lighting is a fall prevention strategy. C is incorrect: Raising all four rails is considered a restraint in most jurisdictions and is generally prohibited without a specific order. It can also increase fall injury if a resident attempts to climb over. D is incorrect: Locking a room door is not a fall prevention measure and would violate safety regulations.
Key concepts