A home health nurse is conducting a home inspection for a client who is at risk for falls. Which of the following instructions should the nurse provide for the client?

The nurse should identify that the client is at risk of developing heart failure and may require further assessment and intervention.

Heart failure is suggested by the progressive decline in vital signs and laboratory results, such as increasing BUN and creatinine levels, which indicate worsening kidney function and can contribute to heart failure. The client’s fatigue, weakness, bilateral edema, and crackles in the lungs are clinical signs consistent with heart failure. The dry, flaky skin and coarse, thinning hair also reflect systemic issues that could be associated with heart failure and poor nutritional status.

The nurse should focus on further assessment to evaluate the severity of heart failure and intervention to manage symptoms, potentially including medication adjustments, fluid management, and additional diagnostic testing. These steps are crucial to addressing the client’s deteriorating condition and preventing further complications.

A. Correct. Observing the client during and after meals is a priority because clients with bulimia nervosa often engage in episodes of binge eating followed by purging behaviors. Monitoring the client's behavior during meals and immediately after can help assess for potential purging behaviors.
B. Incorrect. While involving the client in meal planning might be helpful, it is not the first action to address potential purging behaviors.
C. Incorrect. Instructing the client about effective coping strategies is important, but observing for potential purging behaviors is the initial action to address the client's immediate safety.
D. Incorrect. Referring the client to a support group is beneficial, but it is not the first action to address the client's immediate risk of purging behaviors.