A home health nurse is teaching a client who has heart failure. Which of the following responses should the nurse identify as an indication that the client understands the teaching?

Rationale:

A. Provide the client with high-protein meals: High-protein meals are important for tissue repair and healing, especially in clients at risk for pressure ulcers. Adequate nutrition, including protein, is essential to promote skin integrity and prevent further skin breakdown.

B. Gently massage the reddened areas: Massaging reddened areas can increase tissue damage and worsen skin breakdown. Instead of massaging, the nurse should relieve pressure on those areas to prevent further injury.

C. Place the client in a supine position: The supine position might increase pressure on the client's scapulae. It is better to reposition the client to relieve pressure from affected areas, ideally by turning them to their side or using pillows to offload pressure.

D. Use hot water when cleaning the client's skin: Hot water can dry and irritate the skin, worsening the condition. The nurse should use lukewarm water and gentle, non-irritating products to clean the skin and prevent further damage.

Rationale:

A. Apply a sequential compression device: A sequential compression device (SCD) is used to prevent deep vein thrombosis (DVT), not foot drop. It does not provide the necessary support for preventing foot drop, which results from muscle weakness or paralysis after a CVA.

B. Use padded splints: Padded splints help maintain the foot in a neutral position, which is essential in preventing foot drop. Foot drop occurs due to weakness of the dorsiflexor muscles, and splints can prevent the foot from falling into an abnormal position, reducing the risk of deformities.

C. Elevate the extremity above the heart: Elevating the extremity above the heart is typically done to reduce edema, not to prevent foot drop. While elevating the limb can help with swelling, it does not address the muscle weakness that causes foot drop in post-CVA patients.

D. Reposition the client every 2 hr: Repositioning the client every 2 hours is important for preventing pressure ulcers and promoting circulation. However, it is does not prevent foot drop, which requires targeted interventions such as splints or exercises to maintain proper foot positioning.