A home health care nurse is conducting a fall risk assessment for a client who has osteoarthritis and lives alone. The nurse should identify that which of the following factors creates a risk for falls?

Choice A rationale:

Before initiating teaching for a client with a new diagnosis of type 2 diabetes mellitus, it is essential to identify the client's learning needs. This involves assessing what the client already knows about the condition, their level of understanding, and any specific areas of concern or interest. By establishing the learning needs, the nurse can tailor the teaching plan to address the client's individual requirements, thereby enhancing the effectiveness of the education provided.

Choice B rationale:

While determining the client's literacy level (Choice B) is important, it might not take precedence over understanding the client's learning needs. However, assessing literacy is still relevant because it helps the nurse adapt the teaching materials and language used to ensure the client comprehends the information.

Choice C rationale:

Evaluating the client's readiness for learning (Choice C) is significant, but it should ideally follow the identification of learning needs. Readiness for learning pertains to the client's emotional and psychological state, which can impact their ability to absorb new information. While essential, it should not be the initial step in planning teaching.

Choice D rationale:

Verifying the client's computer access (Choice D) is not directly related to the immediate planning of teaching for a new diagnosis of type 2 diabetes mellitus. While technology and access to online resources can enhance learning, this consideration is secondary to understanding the client's knowledge gaps and preferred learning style.

Choice E rationale:

Identifying the client's learning style (Choice E) is valuable in customizing the teaching approach, but it comes after establishing learning needs. Learning styles, such as visual, auditory, or kinesthetic, can influence the most effective way to present information. However, without first determining what the client needs to know, tailoring the teaching style might not yield optimal results.

Choice A rationale:

Request additional information about the caller's relationship to the client. Rationale: While understanding the caller's relationship to the client is important for confirming the legitimacy of the request, it doesn't address the core concern of maintaining client confidentiality. Sharing information with individuals solely based on their relationship can still lead to breaches in privacy.

Choice B rationale:

Provide a general update about the client's condition over the telephone. Rationale: Providing a general update over the telephone is not a secure method of maintaining client confidentiality. General updates can inadvertently disclose sensitive information and should only be communicated through secure and private channels.

Choice C rationale:

Refer the family member to the client's provider for the update. Rationale: This choice is the correct answer as it ensures that the family member receives accurate and appropriate information from the authorized source, which is the client's healthcare provider. This approach maintains the confidentiality of the client's medical information and adheres to privacy regulations.

Choice D rationale:

Encourage the family member to contact the client directly for information. Rationale: Encouraging direct contact between the family member and the client for information sharing can potentially compromise the client's privacy. The client might not want their condition disclosed to certain individuals, and it's the responsibility of the healthcare provider to ensure that sensitive information is shared appropriately and securely.