A nurse in reviewing the laboratory data on a client who has a new prescription for heparin for treatment of a pulmonary embolism. Which of the following data should the nurse report to the provider?

A. Bathe a client who had an amputation 2 days ago: This task can be delegated to assistive personnel (AP). APs are trained to assist with activities of daily living, including bathing, under the supervision of nursing staff. The nurse should ensure that the AP is aware of any special considerations related to the client's recent amputation.

B. Review a low-sodium diet for a client who has hypertension: This task should not be delegated to APs, as it requires nursing knowledge and understanding to educate the client effectively. Discussing dietary modifications involves assessing the client's understanding and providing education, which falls under the nursing scope of practice.

C. Feed a client who had a stroke 3 months ago: This task can be delegated to APs, provided that the client is stable and the AP has been trained to assist clients with feeding. However, the nurse should assess the client's swallowing ability and any specific precautions related to the stroke before delegating this task.

D. Explain oral hygiene to a client receiving chemotherapy: This task should not be delegated to APs because it involves providing specific education and instructions regarding oral care, which requires nursing judgment and knowledge about the implications of chemotherapy on oral health.

E. Assist a client to ambulate using a gait belt: This task can be delegated to APs. Assisting with ambulation is within the scope of practice for APs, especially when proper techniques and safety measures, such as using a gait belt, are followed. The nurse should ensure that the AP has received appropriate training to assist with ambulation safely.

A. The vein appears cordlike: A cordlike appearance of the vein can indicate phlebitis or thrombosis rather than an infection. While this finding may be associated with complications related to an IV catheter, it does not specifically indicate an infection at the insertion site.

B. Purulent drainage is noted from the site: The presence of purulent drainage is a clear sign of infection. Purulent drainage typically indicates the accumulation of pus, which is a result of the body's immune response to infection. This finding aligns with the expectation of an infection at the IV catheter insertion site.

C. The client reports numbness at the site: Numbness is not a common symptom of infection. It may indicate nerve involvement or irritation, which could be related to the placement of the catheter, but it does not directly signify an infection at the insertion site.

D. Skin over the site is sloughing: Sloughing skin may indicate severe tissue damage or necrosis, which could occur in cases of severe infection, but it is not a typical finding in a localized infection at the insertion site. More commonly, an infection would present with redness, warmth, swelling, and possibly purulent drainage.