A nurse is caring for a client who has osteoarthritis and reports difficulty buttoning their clothes. The nurse should recommend a referral for the client to which of the following members of the interprofessional team?

The correct answer is choice B.

Choice A rationale:

The client does not have transportation for discharge home. Rationale: While transportation is important for discharge planning, it is not the priority concern in this situation. The client's immediate needs and well-being take precedence over transportation concerns.

Choice B rationale:

The client refuses to attend physical therapy sessions. Rationale: The correct choice. After a hip surgery, physical therapy is crucial for preventing complications, promoting mobility, and ensuring optimal recovery. The refusal to attend these sessions could lead to delayed healing, increased risk of complications, and impaired functional outcomes. Addressing the client's resistance to therapy is a priority to ensure the best possible recovery.

Choice C rationale:

The client's home health nurse has not completed the home assessment. Rationale: While a home assessment is important for discharge planning, it is not the most immediate concern. The client's refusal to attend physical therapy could have more immediate and significant effects on their recovery and well-being.

Choice D rationale:

The client describes feelings of depression after family visits. Rationale: While addressing the client's emotional well-being is important, it is not the priority concern in this situation. The refusal to attend physical therapy sessions could have physical consequences that take precedence over the emotional aspect.

Choice A rationale:

A client who has a penetrating head injury and a respiratory rate of 4/min requires immediate attention due to the critical nature of the head injury and the dangerously low respiratory rate. However, in an emergency situation like this, the priority would be a condition that could be rapidly fatal if not addressed promptly.

Choice B rationale:

A client with a comminuted fracture of the femur has a serious injury that requires assessment and treatment, but it is not an immediately life-threatening condition. It falls lower in the priority compared to conditions that directly impact respiratory and cardiovascular function.

Choice C rationale:

A client with a 15.2-cm laceration to the scalp with clotted blood visible also requires attention, but it is not as time-sensitive as a life-threatening condition. Controlling bleeding and cleaning the wound can be addressed after addressing more critical cases.

Choice D rationale:

Correct. A client with a sucking chest wound has a high risk of tension pneumothorax, a condition where air accumulates in the pleural space, leading to lung collapse and compromised circulation. This condition can be rapidly fatal. Immediate intervention is required to seal the wound and prevent further air from entering the pleural space.