What equipment should a nurse use to assist with bed mobility for a client in skeletal traction?

Using an overhead trapeze is the most effective equipment to assist with bed mobility for a client in skeletal traction. The trapeze allows the client to use their upper body strength to lift or move themselves in bed. This is crucial for maintaining mobility while ensuring that the traction is not disrupted. The design of the trapeze permits patients to reposition themselves safely without compromising the alignment and stability provided by skeletal traction, which typically involves significant weight applied to the extremities.

In contrast, while other equipment like inflatable mattresses, bedside rails, and mechanical lifts can aid in patient comfort and support, they do not provide the same level of independence or facilitate movement in a way that accommodates the specific needs of a patient who is in skeletal traction. Inflatable mattresses focus more on pressure relief than mobility, bedside rails can assist in transfers but do not facilitate active movement, and mechanical lifts are generally used for moving patients from one surface to another, rather than assisting them with repositioning within their bed.