A nurse in a long-term care facility is managing the care of an older adult client who has difficulty swallowing and occasional choking during meals. The nurse should initiate a referral to which of the following members of the interprofessional care team?

Choice A reason: Swimming is contraindicated with a fiberglass cast, as water exposure risks skin irritation or cast damage. A hair dryer relieves itching. Allowing swimming risks infection or cast breakdown, critical to avoid in ensuring proper healing and parental education for children with arm casts.

Choice B reason: Positioning the arm in a sling at bedtime is unnecessary; elevation on pillows promotes circulation. A hair dryer addresses itching. Assuming a sling is required risks discomfort, critical to prevent in ensuring proper cast care and comfort for children post-fracture.

Choice C reason: Using a hair dryer on a cool setting safely relieves itching under a fiberglass cast, preventing skin irritation from scratching. This instruction is critical for comfort, ensuring proper cast care, supporting healing, and educating parents on safe management of a child’s arm cast post-injury.

Choice D reason: Checking finger movement every 6 hours is insufficient; frequent checks (e.g., every 2-4 hours) ensure circulation. A hair dryer is correct for itching. Assuming 6-hour checks risks delayed detection of complications, critical to avoid in ensuring safe cast care for children with fractures.

Choice A reason: Alone time for reflection may increase rumination in alcohol use disorder, not fostering self-control; positive feedback reinforces coping. Assuming alone time helps risks isolation, potentially worsening stress, critical to avoid in supporting adaptive behaviors and recovery in clients with alcohol use disorders.

Choice B reason: Gradual alcohol reduction is not ideal for alcohol use disorder, where abstinence is often recommended; positive feedback supports coping. Assuming reduction is effective risks enabling continued use, delaying recovery, critical to prevent in fostering self-control and sobriety in clients with alcohol dependence.

Choice C reason: Having the partner monitor alcohol intake undermines client autonomy, not promoting self-control; positive feedback reinforces independence. Assuming partner responsibility risks dependency, potentially hindering personal accountability, critical to avoid in supporting self-managed recovery in clients with alcohol use disorder.

Choice D reason: Giving positive feedback for adaptive coping strategies reinforces healthy stress management, promoting self-control in alcohol use disorder. This builds confidence, critical for sustained sobriety, encouraging alternative coping mechanisms, and supporting long-term recovery, essential for effective behavioral change in clients managing stress without alcohol.