A home health nurse is teaching a new parent about caring for his 1-week-old infant. Which of the following statements by the client indicates an understanding of the teaching?

A. Educate a client about the purpose of a sputum specimen: Client education requires nursing knowledge and judgment to explain procedures, answer questions, and evaluate understanding. This cannot be delegated to assistive personnel.

B. Perform irrigation of an indwelling urinary catheter: Catheter irrigation is a sterile invasive procedure that requires nursing skill to prevent infection and complications. It falls outside the scope of assistive personnel.

C. Administer liquid aspirin to a client who is crying: Medication administration involves assessment, calculation, and monitoring for adverse effects, which are responsibilities of a licensed nurse. Assistive personnel cannot administer medications.

D. Provide a bed bath for a client who requires isolation precautions: Assisting with hygiene is within the scope of assistive personnel. They can safely provide a bed bath while following isolation protocols under the supervision of the nurse.

Rationale:

A. The client's lung sounds remain clear during the transfusion: Clear lung sounds indicate the absence of fluid overload or pulmonary complications, which is a safety indicator, but it does not reflect the effectiveness of the transfusion in improving oxygen-carrying capacity.

B. The client's blood pressure increases to 140/85 mm Hg following the transfusion: A sudden rise in blood pressure could indicate fluid overload or a transfusion reaction, not necessarily a positive response to the transfusion.

C. The client's hemoglobin level increases following the transfusion: An increase in hemoglobin indicates that the transfused red blood cells have effectively raised the client’s oxygen-carrying capacity, demonstrating a positive therapeutic response.

D. The client is afebrile during the transfusion: Remaining afebrile indicates the absence of a febrile transfusion reaction, which is a safety measure, but it does not show that the transfusion achieved its therapeutic goal.