An older adult female client is hospitalized with a fractured femur. During a routine nursing assessment, she repeatedly asks the nurse to “speak up” so that she can hear the questions. Which action is best for the nurse to take?

Choice A reason: Avoiding gluten is specific to celiac disease, not Crohn’s, which involves inflammatory bowel disease without gluten sensitivity. Gluten restriction does not address Crohn’s mucosal inflammation, and this instruction misguides the client, as dietary triggers vary, requiring individualized management.

Choice B reason: Restricting fluids is incorrect, as Crohn’s patients need adequate hydration to manage diarrhea and prevent dehydration. Fluid restriction exacerbates electrolyte imbalances, worsening symptoms, making this an inappropriate recommendation for Crohn’s dietary management, which focuses on symptom-specific adjustments.

Choice C reason: Limiting calcium and iron is not standard for Crohn’s, as these nutrients support bone health and anemia prevention, common concerns in inflammatory bowel disease. This restriction could worsen deficiencies without addressing inflammation, making it an incorrect dietary focus for Crohn’s.

Choice D reason: Recommending a personalized diet plan with a dietitian is correct, as Crohn’s dietary triggers vary, requiring tailored plans to avoid exacerbating inflammation. Dietitians identify specific irritants, like high-fiber foods, ensuring nutritional balance while minimizing symptoms, making this the best approach for effective management.

Choice A reason: Cell-mediated hypersensitivity (Type IV) involves T-cells, causing delayed reactions like contact dermatitis, not acute symptoms like rash, hypotension, and dyspnea. Bee sting reactions are rapid, driven by IgE-mediated histamine release, making this immune mechanism incorrect for the client’s presentation.

Choice B reason: Autoimmune responses target self-antigens, as in lupus, not external allergens like bee venom. The client’s acute rash, hypotension, and respiratory distress indicate an allergic reaction, not autoimmunity, making this mechanism irrelevant to the anaphylactic response observed.

Choice C reason: IgE response hypersensitivity (Type I) causes anaphylaxis, as bee venom triggers IgE-mediated mast cell degranulation, releasing histamine. This leads to rash, hypotension, and bronchoconstriction, matching the client’s symptoms, making this the correct immune reaction for the acute, life-threatening presentation.

Choice D reason: Type II hypersensitivity involves antibody-mediated cytotoxicity, as in hemolytic anemia, not allergic reactions. Bee sting anaphylaxis results from IgE-driven histamine release, not cell destruction, making this mechanism incorrect for the client’s rapid-onset allergic symptoms.