The nurse is counseling a new client who identifies as a transgender female and is expressing the desire to start estrogen therapy for their transition. What potential complication will the nurse include in the client teaching?

Choice A reason: Incident reports are internal documents used within the hospital to record and analyze adverse events. They are not intended for direct reporting to state, local, and federal agencies, which have their own reporting mechanisms.

Choice B reason: While incident reports may indirectly contribute to assessing the effectiveness of interventions, their primary purpose is not to determine outcomes. Instead, they focus on documenting and analyzing incidents to prevent future occurrences.

Choice C reason: Providing necessary treatment to clients is the immediate response to an incident. However, the purpose of the incident report is broader—it aims to capture the details of the event for analysis and future prevention, not directly to ensure treatment.

Choice D reason: The primary purpose of an incident report is to help the institution identify risk situations and improve client care. By systematically documenting incidents, the hospital can analyze patterns, identify areas for improvement, and implement strategies to enhance safety and quality of care.

Choice A reason: A client who had open reduction and internal fixation of a femur fracture 3 days ago is likely to need ongoing monitoring and care to ensure proper healing and prevent complications. Discharging this client could risk worsening their condition or causing new issues to arise.

Choice B reason: A client admitted last night with community-acquired pneumonia is still in the early stages of treatment and may require close observation and medication adjustments to effectively manage their condition and prevent deterioration.

Choice C reason: An older adult client in the observation unit for evaluation of chest pain may still be at risk for serious conditions such as a heart attack. Releasing this client without a definitive diagnosis or proper management plan could endanger their health.

Choice D reason: A client on the medical unit for wound care for a stage 2 wound to the lower extremity is generally considered stable and appropriate for discharge, provided they have the necessary support and resources to continue wound care at home. This client does not require intensive monitoring or treatment that would necessitate hospital admission.