While assessing a patient, the nurse identifies a respiratory rate of 28 breaths per minute. Which action should the nurse prioritize?

A. To focus solely on verbal communication: Relying only on verbal communication can lead to misunderstanding, especially when health literacy is limited. Effective assessment requires using multiple strategies such as visual aids and teach-back to confirm understanding.

B. To adapt teaching methods based on the client's preferences and understanding: The nurse’s primary role is to tailor communication and teaching strategies to the client’s level of comprehension. This includes using plain language, visuals, and confirming understanding to promote safe and effective care.

C. To disregard any cultural considerations: Cultural factors strongly influence how clients perceive health information and communicate. Ignoring these considerations can create barriers to understanding and reduce the effectiveness of the assessment.

D. To educate the client using written methods only: Written materials alone are often ineffective for clients with limited health literacy. Education should be adapted using simple language, verbal explanation, and demonstration rather than relying solely on written content.

A. The first formally educated Black nurse in the United States: Mary Eliza Mahoney graduated from the New England Hospital for Women and Children Training School for Nurses in 1879. She is celebrated as the first African American to complete formal professional nursing education in the U.S., paving the way for diversity in the profession.

B. The first nurse appointed to the Army Nurse Corps: This distinction belongs to Annie W. Goodrich, who helped establish and lead the Army Nurse Corps. It is not associated with Mary Mahoney.

C. The first woman to establish a nursing school in the United States: Florence Nightingale inspired nursing education reforms, and several American pioneers established nursing schools, but Mary Mahoney did not found a school.

D. The founder of the first public health nursing program: Lillian Wald is credited with founding the Henry Street Settlement and initiating public health nursing. Mary Mahoney’s primary contribution was as a trailblazer in professional nursing education.