The nurse is planning care for a child with muscular dystrophy. What is an appropriate nursing goal?

Choice A rationale Muscular dystrophy is a progressive, incurable genetic disorder characterized by muscle degeneration and weakness. While supportive care can manage symptoms and complications, there is currently no known cure. Therefore, setting a goal to cure the disease is unrealistic and inappropriate in the nursing care plan. Choice B rationale Children with muscular dystrophy experience progressive muscle weakness, increasing their risk of falls, fractures, and respiratory complications. A primary nursing goal is to prevent injury by implementing strategies such as maintaining mobility within limits, providing assistive devices, ensuring a safe environment, and monitoring for complications. Choice C rationale Muscular dystrophy leads to progressive muscle weakness, making rapid ambulation increasingly difficult and eventually impossible. Promoting rapid ambulation as a goal is counterproductive and unrealistic, as it does not align with the progressive nature of the disease and could lead to injury. The focus shifts to maintaining mobility for as long as possible. Choice D rationale Reversing muscle weakness in muscular dystrophy is not possible because the disease involves the degeneration of muscle fibers due to genetic defects. Nursing interventions focus on managing symptoms, slowing progression, and maintaining function, but they cannot reverse the underlying pathological process of muscle fiber loss and replacement with connective tissue.