Which of the following would be the most appropriate goal for an elderly client with a nursing diagnosis of risk for injury after hip surgery?

Choice A reason: This is not the priority assessment, but it is an important assessment for a client with a femur fracture. Pain is the unpleasant sensation that results from tissue damage or inflammation. Pain can affect the client's physical and psychological wellbeing and interfere with their recovery. The nurse should assess the client's pain level, location, quality, and duration using a valid and reliable pain scale. The nurse should also provide pain relief measures, such as medication, ice, elevation, or distraction, as ordered and as needed.

Choice B reason: This is not the priority assessment, but it is a relevant assessment for a client with a femur fracture. Medication history is the record of the drugs that the client is currently taking or has taken in the past, including prescription, overthecounter, herbal, or recreational drugs. Medication history can help the nurse identify any potential drug interactions, allergies, or contraindications that may affect the client's treatment and recovery. The nurse should ask the client about their medication history and document it accurately and completely.

Choice C reason: This is not the priority assessment, but it is a helpful assessment for a client with a femur fracture. Socioeconomic status is the measure of the client's income, education, occupation, and social class. Socioeconomic status can influence the client's access to health care, ability to afford treatment, compliance with therapy, and support system. The nurse should assess the client's socioeconomic status and provide appropriate referrals, resources, or assistance as needed.

Choice D reason: This is the priority assessment for a client with a femur fracture. Pedal pulses are the pulses that can be felt in the feet, such as the dorsalis pedis or the posterior tibial pulse. Pedal pulses can indicate the blood flow and perfusion to the lower extremities, which can be compromised by a femur fracture. A femur fracture can cause bleeding, swelling, or pressure that can reduce or obstruct the blood supply to the feet, leading to ischemia, necrosis, or gangrene. The nurse should assess the client's pedal pulses regularly and report any changes, such as absent, weak, or thready pulses. The nurse should also monitor the client's skin color, temperature, sensation, and movement in the feet.

Choice A reason: An event that can cause serious injury to a client that should never happen in a hospital is not the best description of a sentinel event, because it is too vague and broad. It does not specify the degree of injury or the nature of the event. It also implies that some events that cause serious injury are acceptable in a hospital, which is not true.

Choice B reason: Specific events that enable a hospital to maximize reimbursement is not a description of a sentinel event, but rather a description of quality indicators or performance measures. These are criteria that reflect the quality of care provided by a hospital and affect its payment from payers. They are not related to sentinel events, which are adverse events that require immediate investigation and response.

Choice C reason: An unexpected event involving death or serious physical or psychological injury is the best description of a sentinel event, because it captures the essence and severity of the event. According to the Joint Commission, a sentinel event is "an unexpected occurrence involving death or serious physical or psychological injury, or the risk thereof" . Examples of sentinel events include wrongsite surgery, medication error, suicide, or abduction.

Choice D reason: Operating room event involving the use of unsafe equipment is not a description of a sentinel event, but rather an example of a potential sentinel event. It is not a general definition that applies to all sentinel events, but a specific scenario that may or may not result in death or serious injury. It also does not indicate the unexpectedness of the event, which is a key characteristic of a sentinel event.