Altered Mobility Assignment using a Psychiatric Patient

Published Oct 6, 2010

17 Posts

For one of my Nursing classes, we have to do a case study assignment that involves writing a paper about a patient (psychiatric) who has "altered mobility". Obviously this would be a lot easier if it were a geriatric, med-surg, etc. patient, but I'm in my psych rotation and my instructor seems to think doing an altered mobility paper on a psych patient will be "easy". I see it as having to really "think outside the box" and with only a few days to do it, I'm hoping to get some suggestions from the friendly and helpful nurses here.

My patient I'm using is a long-time resident of the psych hospital (11+ years). He has a criminal record of multiple child molestation convictions - diagnosed (ugh, don't have his actual axis diagnoses home with me) - schizophrenic, bipolar tendencies, personality disorder... He is also severely obese and has sleep apnea, currently a broken finger/hand and numerous other issues that I can probably use to address his "altered mobility".

Just with the ones listed above, I obviously think I can address the general idea that by being confined to a mental hospital, he already has altered mobility in that he can't come and go as he pleases outside of the facility and even inside of the facility. Being obese he doesn't like to participate in their exercise groups, etc. etc.

I am sort of looking for a "Wow" type enlightenment on what some other ideas might be to discuss altered mobility on a psychiatric level, especially for a criminal offender in for the long haul. The professor said, "think outside the box" and my box is pretty tightly sealed right about now with everything else going on!

Thanks for any enlightening thoughts you might have :)