You Are Working in a Long-Term Acute Care Facility, and You

Multiple Choice

You are working in a long-term acute care facility, and you have received orders from the physician to do passive range of motion exercises with Mrs. Covey, a patient who is recovering from shoulder surgery. You complete your evaluation and begin to do the prescribed motions with her shoulder. She immediately tightens up when you start the motion and reports a sharp pain over her middle deltoid. You should

A) advise her that discomfort is to be expected and proceed with the exercises as ordered.
B) advise her to relax to the extent possible and continue with the motions in a reduced, pain-free range.
C) do the exercises as ordered, but with fewer repetitions than you had originally planned.
D) immediately discontinue the exercises and contact the physician for additional instructions.