Reference no: EM133544069

Assignment:

Wash your hands and introduce yourself to the patient. Explain the procedure to the patient in order to ensure understanding, cooperation, and consent. Assisting as necessary, ask the patient to remove shoes and any heavy objects, such as a wallet or keys. Ask the patient to put these items in a safe designated area to the side. Zero balance the scale and place a paper towel on the platform. Ask the patient to stand on the paper towel, facing outward. Help to prevent a fall by staying near in case the patient becomes unsteady or needs assistance getting up onto the scale. To obtain a height, lower the measuring bar until it is firmly resting on the top of the patient's head. Read the line where the measurement falls.

To obtain the patient's weight, move the lower weight bar to the estimated number and then slowly slide the upper bar until the balance beam point is centered. Read the weight by adding the upper bar measurement to the lower bar measurement. Assist the patient off the scale as needed and return any objects that were set aside. Provide a chair so that shoes can be put on. Record the measurement in the patient's medical record. Reset the balance beam scale weights to zero and wash your hands.

1. Although there are stand-alone devices that can be mounted to a wall to check a patient's height, most of the balance beam scales have a height apparatus attached to them. Why and when is a patient's height obtained? What is the process of obtaining a patient's height using a balance beam scale?

2. Why and when is a patient's weight obtained? What is the process for weighing a patient using a balance beam scale.

3. Describe why measurements are important to patients.