A nurse is educating a group of patients in their first trimester about exercise during pregnancy.
Which of the following statements should the nurse include in the teaching?

Choice A rationale

Decreased muscle mass is a common age-related musculoskeletal change. As people age, they tend to lose muscle mass due to changes in muscle fiber and decreased physical activity. This can lead to weakness and decreased mobility.

Choice B rationale

Thickened vertebral disks are not typically an age-related change. Instead, the disks often become thinner and less flexible with age, which can lead to conditions like degenerative disk disease.

Choice C rationale

Increased force of isometric contraction is not an age-related musculoskeletal change. In fact, both isometric and isotonic muscle strength tend to decrease with age.

Choice D rationale

Reduced chest width is not typically an age-related musculoskeletal change. However, changes in posture and spinal curvature can affect the shape and function of the chest.

Choice A rationale

The task of recording strict nutritional content is within the scope of practice for an assistive personnel (AP). The AP can keep track of the client’s food and fluid intake and report this information to the nurse. This is important in this case as the client has not been eating and the provider has prescribed a regular tray with finger foods at each meal. The nurse can then use this information to assess the client’s nutritional status and make necessary adjustments to the care plan.

Choice B rationale

Administering medication, such as memantine, is not within the scope of practice for an AP. This task requires knowledge and skills related to pharmacology, assessment, and evaluation that are beyond the training of an AP. Therefore, this task should be performed by a licensed nurse.

Choice C rationale

Performing neurological checks is also not within the scope of practice for an AP. These checks involve assessing the client’s level of consciousness, orientation, and neurological function, which require advanced assessment skills. Therefore, this task should be performed by a licensed nurse.

Choice D rationale

Continuing the bowel training program could potentially be within the scope of practice for an AP, depending on the specific tasks involved. However, in this case, the family member has reported that the client is having more difficulty staying focused, which suggests that the bowel training program may need to be adjusted. This requires nursing judgment and therefore should be performed by a licensed nurse.