Five months following treatment for herpes zoster, an older adult client tells the home health nurse of continuing to experience pain where the rash occurred. Which action should the nurse implement?

Choice A reason:This is incorrect because teaching the client to wear a mask, hand wash, and social distance is not the most important action for the nurse to take. These are preventive measures that should be followed by everyone, regardless of their COVID-19 status.

Choice Breason:This is incorrect because explaining to the client to inform others that they may have been potentially exposed in the last 14 days is not the most important action for the nurse to take. This is a moral and social responsibility that should be done as soon as possible, but it does not address the urgent need of isolating the client from potential sources of infection.

Choice Creason:This is correct because isolating the client from other clients, family, and healthcare workers not wearing proper PPE is the most important action for the nurse to take. This is to prevent transmission of COVID-19 to others who may be at risk of severe complications or death.

Choice Dreason:This is incorrect because reporting the COVID-19 result to the local health department according to CDC guidelines is not the most important action for the nurse to take. This is a legal and ethical obligation that should be done after confirming the diagnosis, but it does not have an immediate impact on the client's health or safety.

Positive health promotion activities include inquiring about blood pressure, asking questions about self-care, executing pull-ups on a trapeze bar, and turning side to side.

Negative health promotion activities include requesting the nurse to perform wound care and avoiding looking at the residual limb.

Rationale

POSITIVE:

Inquires about blood pressure:

Inquiring about blood pressure shows awareness of cardiovascular health, which is important for individuals with peripheral vascular disease. Monitoring blood pressure regularly can help prevent complications and manage hypertension, a common comorbidity in peripheral vascular disease.

Asks questions about self-care:

Asking questions about self-care indicates engagement in the management of one's health post- amputation. Understanding self-care tasks, such as wound care, prosthetic use, and rehabilitation exercises, is crucial for optimal recovery and adjustment to life after amputation. Executes pull-ups on trapeze bar:

Engaging in physical activity, such as pull-ups on a trapeze bar, demonstrates motivation for rehabilitation and adaptation to life after amputation. Strengthening exercises can improve overall physical function and assist in adjusting to mobility with a prosthetic limb.

Turns side to side:

Turning side to side suggests mobility and activity post-amputation. Movement and repositioning are important for preventing complications such as pressure ulcers and promoting circulation in individuals with peripheral vascular disease.

NEGATIVE

Requests nurse to perform wound care:

Negative: While it's understandable for a client to initially require assistance with wound care post-amputation, relying solely on the nurse to perform wound care may indicate a lack of engagement in self-management and may hinder the client's transition to independence in managing their health post-amputation.

Avoids looking at residual limb:

Negative: Avoiding looking at the residual limb may indicate psychological distress or difficulty accepting the amputation. It's important for individuals post-amputation to gradually become comfortable with their changed body image and to address any psychological challenges through counseling or support groups.