In providing daily catheter care for a client with a condom catheter, which action should the practical nurse (PN) include?

A. Extend thumb at a right angle during gloving: Positioning the thumb may help with glove placement but does not directly maintain surgical asepsis. The focus of aseptic technique is keeping gloves sterile, not thumb positioning during the process.
B. Keep gloved hands in sight above waist level: Keeping hands in sight and above waist level is essential for maintaining surgical asepsis. Anything below waist level is considered contaminated, and visibility ensures that sterility is not compromised during procedures.
C. Touch cuff fold only while applying second glove: Touching the cuff is appropriate when donning the second glove, but maintaining hand position above waist level is a broader and ongoing requirement to uphold sterile technique throughout the procedure.
D. Apply a mask once both hands are gloved: Masks should already be in place before starting the sterile gloving procedure. Waiting to apply a mask after donning sterile gloves risks contaminating the gloves and breaking sterile technique.

A. Alteration in comfort: Restlessness, shallow breathing, and clenching teeth are strong indicators of discomfort or pain, especially in a client with aphasia who cannot verbalize needs. Assessing for pain or other sources of distress is the priority to address the client’s immediate comfort and prevent further deterioration.
B. Deficit in diversional activity: While limited activity can impact emotional health, signs like restlessness and physical tension suggest an immediate physical problem rather than boredom or inactivity. Comfort issues must be addressed first before considering diversional needs.
C. Elevated blood pressure: Stroke patients are at risk for hypertension, but restlessness and shallow respirations alone do not directly indicate elevated blood pressure. Blood pressure may rise secondary to pain or distress, but comfort assessment is still the initial focus.
D. Change in blood glucose level: Blood glucose fluctuations can cause changes in mental status or energy levels, but the client’s symptoms of clenching teeth and shallow breathing more strongly point toward discomfort or pain rather than hypoglycemia or hyperglycemia.