A home health nurse is preparing to make an initial visit to a family following a referral from a local provider. Identify the sequence of steps the nurse should take when conducting a home visit. (Move the steps into the box on the right, placing them in the order of performance. Use all the steps.)

A. Prospective audit: A prospective audit evaluates care before it is provided, focusing on planned interventions rather than outcomes after discharge. It is not used to assess post-care quality.

B. Outcome audit: Outcome audits measure the results of care, such as client recovery, complication rates, or satisfaction, after interventions have been completed. This type of audit is appropriate for gathering information about quality of care following discharge.

C. Structure audit: Structure audits assess the resources, staffing, and organizational infrastructure used to deliver care. They do not measure client outcomes or post-discharge quality.

D. Concurrent audit: Concurrent audits evaluate care while it is being provided, allowing immediate feedback and corrections. They are performed during hospitalization, not after discharge.

Rationale for Correct Choices:

• Intravenous antibiotic: The client is exhibiting signs of postpartum endometritis, including fever, tachycardia, a boggy and tender uterus, and foul-smelling lochia. IV antibiotics are the standard treatment to rapidly address bacterial infection and prevent systemic complications.
• Increase in daily fluid intake: Adequate hydration supports the client’s recovery by improving perfusion to the uterus, aiding in the clearance of infection, and preventing dehydration, especially if the client is febrile or breastfeeding.

Rationale for Incorrect Choices:

• Intrauterine tamponade balloon: This intervention is used primarily for severe postpartum hemorrhage, which is not evident in this client. Vital signs and lochia amount do not indicate ongoing hemorrhage.
• Kleihauer-Betke test: This test identifies fetal-maternal hemorrhage, which is not relevant to postpartum infection management. The client’s presentation suggests infection rather than blood loss.
• Tocolytic medication: Tocolytics are used to suppress preterm labor, which is not a concern for a postpartum client. The client’s symptoms are consistent with infection rather than uterine contractions needing suppression.