A nurse is reinforcing teaching with a client who is starting digoxin therapy to treat heart failure. The nurse should reinforce with the client that which of the following adverse effects is a possible indication of digoxin toxicity and should be reported to the provider?

Choice A Reason:

Maintaining the client in high-Fowler's position is a correct action. Keeping the client in a high-Fowler's position (sitting up with the head of the bed elevated) can help improve lung expansion and ease breathing for clients with heart failure and respiratory distress.

Choice B Reason:

Instructing the client to cough every 4 hr. is not directly addressing the underlying issue of fluid accumulation and respiratory distress associated with heart failure. Coughing alone may not be sufficient to alleviate these symptoms.

Choice C Reason:

Increasing the client's intake of oral fluids is generally not recommended without considering the client's overall fluid status. In heart failure, there is often a need to restrict fluid intake to prevent fluid overload and worsening of symptoms. Increasing oral fluids should be done cautiously and under the guidance of the healthcare provider.

Choice D Reason:

Encouraging the client to ambulate to loosen secretions. While ambulation can be beneficial for some clients to improve overall circulation and prevent complications, it may not be the primary intervention in this case. The client's primary issue is likely related to pulmonary congestion due to heart failure, and they may be too short of breath to ambulate effectively.

Understanding the literacy level of the older adults is crucial for developing an effective education program. It helps the nurse tailor the content, language, and teaching methods to ensure that the material is accessible and understandable to the participants. By assessing their literacy level, the nurse can identify any potential barriers to learning and make appropriate adjustments to promote effective communication and comprehension.

Once the literacy level is determined, the nurse can then proceed with the other actions, such as establishing learning outcomes, scheduling a time to implement the program, and creating handouts that are suitable for the participants' literacy level. However, determining the literacy level should be the first step in order to create an inclusive and effective educational experience for the older adults.