A nurse is providing teaching to a client who is anxious about their mastectomy scheduled in 2 hr. Which of the following complementary therapies should the nurse recommend to the client?

A. Make a priority list of information the client should learn: While making a priority list of information is important, it should come after assessing the client's learning needs. This ensures that the most relevant and important information is prioritized.

B. Determine the client's learning needs: The first step in planning teaching is to assess the client’s learning needs. This allows the nurse to tailor the teaching plan to the client’s level of understanding, cultural preferences, and specific concerns related to the central venous access device.

C. Obtain written information to give the client: Written information is helpful but should not be the first step. It is more effective when tailored to the client’s learning needs, which should be assessed first to ensure relevance.

D. Select a visual method to reinforce verbal teaching for the client: Visual methods can be helpful for reinforcing verbal teaching, but this step should follow the assessment of the client’s learning needs. Teaching strategy should align with the client’s preferred learning style.

A. Prop the feet up: Proping the feet up may not be effective in preventing plantar flexion contractures, as it does not provide sustained support to keep the feet in a neutral position. Plantar flexion can still occur with this position.

B. Apply an abduction pillow to the legs: An abduction pillow is used to keep the hips in a neutral position, not to prevent plantar flexion contractures. It is useful for preventing hip contractures but not specifically for the feet.

C. Use a trochanter roll: A trochanter roll helps prevent external rotation of the hip joint, not plantar flexion of the feet. It is used for positioning to prevent hip complications, but it does not address foot position or contracture prevention.

D. Use foot splints: Foot splints are designed to keep the feet in a neutral or dorsiflexed position, preventing the toes from pointing downward (plantar flexion). This is the most effective intervention to prevent plantar flexion contractures in an immobile client.