A nurse is teaching a group of newly licensed nurses on effective techniques for counseling clients about sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Which of the following statements should the nurse include in the teaching?

Choice A reason:
Applying a foot plate to the bed is not primarily intended to prevent pressure points from developing around the edges of the splint. A foot plate can help in maintaining proper alignment and preventing foot drop, but it does not address the issue of pressure points caused by the splint.

Choice B reason:
Repositioning the client is a key intervention to prevent pressure points. By changing the client's position regularly, the nurse can ensure that no single area is under prolonged pressure, which could lead to skin breakdown and pressure sores. This is particularly important in clients with limited mobility due to skeletal traction.

Choice C reason:
Removing the weights for a few minutes each hour is not a standard practice for preventing pressure points in balanced skeletal traction. The weights are integral to maintaining the necessary pull on the fractured femur, and their removal could disrupt the traction setup and potentially affect fracture healing.

Choice D reason:
Applying lotion to the skin under the edges of the splint is not recommended as it could soften the skin and make it more susceptible to injury. Instead, padding and proper positioning are used to protect the skin from the hard edges of the splint.

Choice A reason:
Squamous cell carcinoma typically presents as a rough, scaly, red patch, open sore, or raised growth with a central depression, often on sun-exposed areas of the body. While it can appear as a lesion that varies in color, it is not commonly associated with a nevus that has increased in size.

Choice B reason:
Malignant melanoma is associated with changes in preexisting nevi, such as an increase in size and variations in color. It often appears as a mole that changes in color, size, or feel and may have irregular edges. The description of the lesion provided by the client is characteristic of malignant melanoma, making this the correct diagnosis.

Choice C reason:
Kaposi's sarcoma is a cancer that forms in the lining of blood and lymph vessels and typically appears as patches of abnormal tissue on the skin or mucous membranes. These lesions are usually red or purple and look similar to bruises¹. They are not typically described as nevi that increase in size or lesions that vary in color.

Choice D reason:
Basal cell carcinoma often appears as a slightly transparent bump on the skin, though it can take other forms. It usually presents as a pearly white or pink bump on white skin, or a brown or black bump on darker skin, and is most often found on sun-exposed areas. It is not typically associated with a nevus that has increased in size or an irregularly shaped lesion that varies in color.