Restorative nursing focuses on what primary goal?

• A. Maintain or improve function and independence; prevent complications; promote quality of life.
• B. Increase bed rest.
• C. Focus only on pain relief.
• D. Eliminate all medications.

Answer: (A)

Restorative nursing aims to help residents regain or maintain their ability to care for themselves and participate in daily activities, while preventing declines and complications that can come with illness or hospitalization. It focuses on functional improvement and independence, because staying as self-sufficient as possible supports dignity, safety, and overall well-being.

Practically, this means activities and interventions that build strength, range of motion, balance, and endurance; training in self-care tasks like dressing, bathing, and feeding; and use of assistive devices when needed. It also includes measures to prevent complications, such as protecting skin from pressure injuries, promoting good nutrition and hydration, and reducing the risk of falls or infections. All of these steps work together to preserve quality of life.

Options that emphasize bed rest, sole pain relief, or stopping all medications don’t align with restorative nursing. Resting too much can lead to deconditioning; addressing pain is important but not the sole focus; and medications are sometimes essential for health and safety, not an objective to eliminate. Restorative care centers on empowering the patient to function as fully as possible and to maintain independence.