A nurse is caring for an older adult client who has advanced dementia and needs a blood transfusion. The client previously designated her adult daughter on a durable power of attorney for health care form, and the daughter refuses the treatment. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?

A) Vital signs flow sheet:

While vital signs are essential for assessing the client's health status, the home health agency typically focuses on the client's ongoing care needs rather than retrospective data such as vital sign trends.

B) Nursing admission assessment:

The nursing admission assessment provides valuable information about the client's initial condition upon admission to the acute care facility. However, the home health agency primarily requires information relevant to the client's current health status and ongoing care needs.

C) Current medications:

Providing the home health agency with a list of the client's current medications is essential for continuity of care. It allows the home health agency to ensure that the client receives the appropriate medications and dosages after discharge. This information helps prevent medication errors, adverse drug interactions, and omissions in the client's care plan. Additionally, the home health agency can use the medication list to reconcile medications and update the client's medication regimen as needed.

D) Nurses' notes:

While nurses' notes contain valuable information about the client's care during their stay in the acute care facility, they may not be immediately relevant to the home health agency's provision of care in the community setting. The focus of the home health agency is typically on the client's current status and needs rather than historical documentation.

A) Administer liquids to the client using a syringe:

Administering liquids using a syringe may not address the underlying issue of food pocketing in the client's cheeks during meals. While syringe feeding may be necessary for clients with severe dysphagia, it does not address the need for comprehensive evaluation and intervention by a speech therapist.

B) Elevate the head of the client's bed to 45° during meals:

Elevating the head of the bed during meals is a standard intervention to help prevent aspiration in clients with dysphagia. While this intervention may be appropriate, it may not directly address the issue of food pocketing in the client's cheeks. Therefore, it is not the most comprehensive intervention for this specific problem.

C) Instruct the client to tilt their head back when swallowing:

Tilting the head back when swallowing is not a recommended intervention for clients with dysphagia. In fact, this maneuver can increase the risk of aspiration, as it can cause food or liquid to enter the airway. Therefore, this intervention would not be appropriate and could potentially exacerbate the client's swallowing difficulties.

D) Request a speech therapist consult from the provider:

This is the most appropriate intervention for addressing the client's dysphagia and food pocketing. Speech therapists are trained to assess and treat swallowing disorders, including pocketing of food in the cheeks. They can conduct a comprehensive evaluation of the client's swallowing function and develop individualized interventions to address the underlying causes of dysphagia. Therefore, requesting a speech therapist consult is the most effective way to manage this issue and improve the client's swallowing safety and efficiency.