A nurse enters the room of a client who has a seizure disorder. The client is sitting in a chair and begins to experience a seizure. Which of the following actions should the nurse take first?

A. Occupational therapist:

While occupational therapists play a valuable role in stroke rehabilitation, they typically focus on activities of daily living (ADLs), upper extremity function, and adaptive strategies. In the context of frequent coughing during swallowing, the expertise of an SLP is more directly relevant to address potential dysphagia.

B. Physical therapist:

Physical therapists primarily focus on mobility, strength, and balance. While they may be involved in stroke rehabilitation, the issue of coughing during swallowing is more aligned with the scope of practice of a speech-language pathologist.

C. Speech-language pathologist:

This is the correct answer. A speech-language pathologist (SLP) specializes in assessing and treating communication and swallowing disorders. In this case, the client is experiencing coughing when swallowing, indicating a potential swallowing (dysphagia) issue. The SLP can conduct a thorough evaluation of the client's swallowing function and recommend appropriate interventions, such as swallowing exercises or modified diets, to address the coughing and improve safe swallowing.

D. Social worker:

Social workers provide support for psychosocial and community-related issues. While they are crucial members of the interdisciplinary team, they may not have the specific expertise needed to address the swallowing difficulties experienced by the client after a stroke

A. Case manager:

The nurse manager, in this context, is not functioning as a case manager. Case management typically involves coordinating and managing the overall care plan for a client over time, including coordination of resources and services.

B. Client care provider:

The nurse manager, in this scenario, is functioning as a client care provider. By observing the newly licensed nurse perform a straight catheterization, the nurse manager is directly involved in overseeing and ensuring the safety of the client care being provided.

C. Client advocate:

While advocacy for the client is a crucial role for all nurses, the specific action described (observing the procedure) is more aligned with the role of a client care provider. Advocacy involves supporting and safeguarding the client's rights and well-being, which can be done in various nursing roles.

D. Client educator:

The nurse manager is not functioning as a client educator in this specific situation. Client education involves providing information and instruction to the client to promote their understanding and participation in their care. The nurse manager's role here is more focused on direct observation and supervision of a clinical skill.