The nurse is educating the family of a patient with limited mobility after a hip fracture. Which action should the nurse take to help promote independence and self-care?

Choice A reason: A sore throat is common post-thyroidectomy due to intubation but is not life-threatening. Neck swelling may indicate a hematoma, a more urgent issue, making this less priority.

Choice B reason: Hoarseness may result from recurrent laryngeal nerve irritation, a concern, but is less immediate than swelling, which risks airway compromise. This makes hoarseness a secondary finding.

Choice C reason: Neck swelling is the priority, as it may indicate a hematoma or bleeding, potentially compressing the airway. This life-threatening complication requires immediate intervention, making it the correct choice.

Choice D reason: Mild incision pain is expected post-surgery and manageable with analgesics. Swelling poses a greater risk of airway obstruction, making pain a lower priority finding.

Choice A reason: Concern about skin staining indicates the Z-track method, which prevents medication leakage into subcutaneous tissue, reducing irritation or discoloration. This technique is used for medications like iron dextran, where staining is a risk, making this the correct patient statement.

Choice B reason: Wanting to reduce injection pain does not specifically indicate Z-track, which is used to prevent leakage, not primarily pain. Other techniques (e.g., slow injection) address pain, making this statement unrelated to Z-track use.

Choice C reason: An allergy to the medication contraindicates administration, not indicates a specific technique like Z-track. The method addresses leakage, not hypersensitivity, making this statement irrelevant to the Z-track method’s purpose.

Choice D reason: Wanting fast-acting medication does not relate to Z-track, which ensures deep delivery but does not affect onset speed. Intramuscular routes generally have fixed absorption rates, making this statement unrelated to the Z-track indication.