What should be done before a patient attempts to ambulate after a fall?

• A. Have patient wash hands and check room cleanliness
• B. Monitor for reports of dizziness and take blood pressure
• C. Immediately stand and assess dizziness by walking a few steps
• D. Check the radiology order

Answer: (B)

Assess safety before ambulation by evaluating for dizziness and orthostatic changes. After a fall, a patient may have head injury, vertigo, dehydration, or medication-related effects that cause dizziness or a drop in blood pressure when moving to an upright position. By monitoring reports of dizziness and taking the blood pressure, you can determine whether it’s safe to ambulate or if a gradual, assisted approach is needed.

If dizziness is present or the blood pressure drops significantly with position change, ambulation should be postponed and the patient should be kept resting with assistance (use a gait belt, have support available, and reconsider the need for further assessment). If vitals are stable and there’s no dizziness, you can proceed with cautious ambulation under supervision.

The other options don’t address the immediate safety risk after a fall. Infection-control steps, instantly standing to walk, or checking a radiology order don’t assess the patient’s stability for ambulation at that moment.