Mobility Ax on a UTI

An interesting incident occurred whilst I was on my Gerontology placement. I was required to complete a mobility assessment for a patient, whom had which was suffering from a UTI. Of course some of the symptoms of such pathology is a confused and sometimes delirious state of mind.

On arriving to her room I found her sitting in her chair. She appeared very distressed. On introducing my self and explaining why I was there she proceeded to retort with responses indicative of ‘giving up on life’ and that ‘no one cares about her’ and ‘wanting to go home to be with her son’. As I knelt down beside her and tried to ease and comfort her and orderly came into the room with a wheelchair for my patient. She was to have imaging performed. On hearing this further request of her she fired up again and refused all intervention. The nurse in the room was now trying to coax the patient into having the imaging performed. The patient was becoming more distressed obvious to all so we all let up and the nurse and orderly left the patient’s bed space.

I couldn’t resist trying once more to talk to the patient. I had not had any previous experience dealing with patients in this mental state. Her confusion and behavior was to prove to overwhelming for me. She just got worked up again continuing with her earlier remarks.

I realized that this state she was in was hindering my chances of gaining her consent for a mobility assessment. We as physio’s have to consider all things in terms of a patient’s presentation, which can be highly variable anyway on a day-to-day basis, including their cognitive function, willingness to engage with us before we can undertake a mobility assessment.

I know now from this experience that the symptoms which can be associated with UTI’s can alter a patient’s behavior and therefore their willingness to engage. It can also disrupt and upset the patient. Mobility assessments as important as they are need to be undertaken when the patient is willing and able.