A nursing assistant is performing passive range-of-motion exercises on a resident who had a stroke and cannot move the affected arm independently. The resident reports pain during elbow extension. What should the nursing assistant do?
- A.Push through the pain to improve the joint's range of motion
- B.Stop the exercise, support the joint in a comfortable position, and report the pain to the nurse
- C.Apply ice to the elbow and continue the exercise after 5 minutes
- D.Have the resident perform active range-of-motion instead
Show answer & rationale
Correct answer
B. Stop the exercise, support the joint in a comfortable position, and report the pain to the nurse
Rationale
B is correct: Pain during range-of-motion exercises is a warning sign of injury, inflammation, or contracture. The nursing assistant must stop immediately, support the joint comfortably, and report the finding to the nurse who will assess and direct further care. A is incorrect: Forcing a painful joint through movement can cause fractures, ligament tears, or worsen existing injury. The nursing assistant must never 'push through' pain. C is incorrect: Applying ice without nursing authorization and continuing the exercise is outside the nursing assistant's scope; the pain must be reported. D is incorrect: A resident who had a stroke and cannot move the limb independently cannot perform active ROM. Directing this is inappropriate.
Key concepts