The nurse is documenting the medical history of a young adult client who was recently diagnosed with type 1 diabetes mellitus. The client smokes 2 packs of cigarettes daily and the client's father died of a heart attack at the age of 45. Which annual screening is most important for the nurse include?

A) Fasting blood glucose average readings were 20% lower at the end of the classes:
This outcome measure directly evaluates the effectiveness of the diabetes education classes. A significant reduction in fasting blood glucose levels indicates that the classes had a positive impact on the clients' diabetes management, reflecting the practical success of the educational interventions.

B) Discussion of food exchanges and calories was a well-attended class:
While class attendance is a positive indicator of interest, it does not measure the actual effectiveness of the classes in improving diabetes management. Attendance alone does not confirm that the information was effectively applied or that it led to improved health outcomes.

C) Demonstrating the use of a blood glucose meter was an effective teaching strategy:
Although demonstrating the use of a blood glucose meter is an important teaching strategy, evaluating its effectiveness does not provide a comprehensive measure of the overall impact of the classes. The ultimate goal is to see improvements in health outcomes, such as blood glucose control.

D) Parking convenience for attendees continued to be a major concern:
While logistical issues like parking convenience are important for class accessibility, they do not reflect the effectiveness of the educational content in improving health outcomes. The focus should be on measurable changes in clients' health status, such as blood glucose levels.

A. Review the previous school nurse's anecdotal documents:
While reviewing past documents may provide some context or historical insights, anecdotal evidence is subjective and may not offer a comprehensive or objective validation of current findings.

B. Obtain morbidity and mortality data for the geographic area:
Morbidity and mortality data offer objective, quantifiable information about health conditions and outcomes in the community. This data helps validate and supplement the observations from a windshield survey by providing concrete evidence on health trends, disease prevalence, and outcomes in the area.

C. Talk with teachers about their concerns for the students:
Teachers’ perspectives can provide valuable insights into student health and well-being, but this method is subjective and may not provide the objective validation needed to corroborate findings from a windshield survey.

D. Discuss with the Parent/Teacher Association (PTA) board about their perception of school events:
The PTA board’s perceptions can offer useful information about community and school events, but their feedback is subjective and may not provide the objective data needed to validate the findings of a windshield survey.