The practical nurse (PN) is caring for a client with influenza. Which action should the PN implement to prevent the spread of influenza?

A. Synergistic actions: Synergistic effects occur when two drugs enhance each other’s action, but they are not the primary concern after one week of stable medication use. While important to monitor, they are less critical than cumulative effects in older adults who have slower drug metabolism.
B. Cumulative effects: Cumulative effects are the most important to assess in an older adult because aging decreases liver and kidney function, slowing drug metabolism and excretion. This can lead to drug buildup in the body, increasing the risk of toxicity even when medications have been taken as prescribed.
C. Idiosyncratic responses: Idiosyncratic reactions are unpredictable and not dose-dependent. They are important but tend to occur early in therapy rather than after a week of consistent medication use, making them less of a focus at this stage.
D. Antagonistic reactions: Antagonistic reactions, where drugs block each other's effects, are possible but would generally present early during therapy. After a week of stable use without new drugs added, cumulative buildup remains the greater priority for safe ongoing care.

A. Show acceptance of the client's current feelings: Accepting the client’s emotional response without judgment builds trust and provides emotional support, which is critical when coping with a new diagnosis of advanced cancer.
B. Share a similar personal experience: Sharing personal experiences shifts the focus away from the client’s feelings and can be perceived as minimizing their unique emotional response. It is more therapeutic to focus entirely on the client’s experience.
C. Document the behavior in the client's record: Accurate documentation of the client's emotional state ensures continuity of care and alerts other healthcare providers to the client's need for emotional support and potential interventions.
D. Ask the palliative care nurse to see the client: Involving a palliative care specialist provides expert emotional, spiritual, and symptom management support, which is appropriate for a client newly diagnosed with stage IV cancer.
E. Allow the client a time to continue crying: Allowing the client to cry acknowledges their need to express grief and emotion. It helps the client begin processing the overwhelming news and supports healthy emotional expression.