When is it most important for the nurse to assess a pregnant client's deep tendon reflexes (DTRs)?

Choice A: An adult client with a tracheal tube draining clear, pale red liquid drainage. This client should not be assessed last, as they may have a potential airway obstruction or infection. The tracheal tube drainage should be monitored for color, amount, and consistency, and suctioned as needed.

Choice B: An older client with dark red drainage on a postoperative dressing, but no drainage in the Hemovac. This client should not be assessed last, as they may have a potential hemorrhage or wound dehiscence. The postoperative dressing and Hemovac should be monitored for color, amount, and odor, and changed as needed.

Choice C: An adult client with no postoperative drainage in the Jackson-Pratt drain with the bulb compressed. This client can be assessed last, as they have no signs of complications or problems. The Jackson-Pratt drain is a closed suction device that collects fluid from a surgical site. The bulb should be compressed to create negative pressure and facilitate drainage.

Choice D: An older client with a distended abdomen and no drainage from the nasogastric tube. This client should not be assessed last, as they may have a potential bowel obstruction or perforation. The nasogastric tube is inserted through the nose into the stomach to decompress gas and fluid. The abdomen should be monitored for size, shape, and bowel sounds, and the nasogastric tube should be checked for patency and placement.

Choice D is correct because allowing time for the behavior and then redirecting the client to other activities is an effective intervention for a client with OCD who is repeatedly washing the top of the same table. OCD is a disorder characterized by recurrent and intrusive thoughts (obsessions) and repetitive and ritualistic behaviors (compulsions) that cause distress and impairment. The nurse should not interfere with or criticize the client's compulsions, as this can increase anxiety and resistance. The nurse should instead set limits on the time and place for the compulsions and gradually reduce them by offering alternative coping strategies or distractions.

Choice A is incorrect because encouraging the client to be calm and relax for a while is not an effective intervention for a client with OCD who is repeatedly washing the top of the same table. The client may not be able to relax or stop their compulsions, as they are driven by irrational fears or beliefs that are difficult to control. The nurse should not minimize or dismiss the client's feelings, as this can make them feel misunderstood or invalidated.

Choice B is incorrect because teaching the client thought-stopping techniques and how to refocus behaviors is not an effective intervention for a client with OCD who is repeatedly washing the top of the same table. Thought-stopping techniques are cognitive strategies that aim to interrupt or replace negative or unwanted thoughts with positive or neutral ones. However, these techniques may not work for clients with OCD, as their obsessions are often persistent and resistant to change. The nurse should not attempt to teach new skills or challenge the client's thoughts during an acute episode of compulsion, as this can increase anxiety and frustration.

Choice C is incorrect because assisting the client to identify stimuli that precipitate the activity is not an effective intervention for a client with OCD who is repeatedly washing the top of the same table. The client may not be able to identify or avoid the triggers that cause their compulsions, as they are often internal or irrational. The nurse should not focus on finding the cause or meaning of the compulsions, as this can reinforce their significance or validity.