A newly licensed nurse is reviewing the role of a nurse in disaster planning. Which of the following is an activity a nurse should engage in to assist in disaster preparedness?

Choice A reason: TENS units are effective for chronic pain but less practical 4 hours post-knee arthroplasty due to incision sensitivity; cold packs reduce swelling. Assuming TENS is ideal risks discomfort, critical to avoid in early postoperative pain management, ensuring comfort in acute recovery phases.

Choice B reason: Walking 4 hours post-knee arthroplasty is premature, risking strain or bleeding; cold packs are safer. Assuming walking is appropriate risks complications, critical to prevent in early postoperative care, ensuring pain relief and surgical site protection in clients recovering from knee surgery.

Choice C reason: Lidocaine gel is pharmacological, not nonpharmacological, and inappropriate near fresh incisions; cold packs are correct. Assuming gel is nonpharmacological risks misapplication, potentially causing irritation, critical to avoid in ensuring safe, nonpharmacological pain relief in early post-knee arthroplasty recovery.

Choice D reason: Placing a cold pack reduces swelling and pain 4 hours post-knee arthroplasty, a safe nonpharmacological therapy promoting comfort. This is critical for early recovery, minimizing inflammation, supporting healing, and ensuring effective pain management without medications in clients post-total knee arthroplasty.

Choice A reason: Patient-centered care focuses on individual needs, not incident reporting, which aims at system improvement. Quality improvement is correct. Assuming patient-centered care risks misidentifying the competency, potentially overlooking system safety enhancements, critical to avoid in ensuring effective fall prevention strategies in healthcare.

Choice B reason: Informatics involves data management, not directly incident reporting, which supports quality improvement. Assuming informatics is key risks missing the safety focus, potentially neglecting system analysis, critical to prevent in ensuring incident reports contribute to safer care environments post-client falls.

Choice C reason: Evidence-based practice guides clinical decisions, not incident reporting, which drives quality improvement. Assuming evidence-based practice is relevant risks overlooking system safety analysis, critical to avoid in ensuring incident reports address fall risks and enhance care quality in healthcare settings.

Choice D reason: Completing an incident report demonstrates quality improvement by identifying safety issues like falls, enabling system changes to prevent recurrence. This is critical for enhancing care safety, reducing risks, and improving outcomes, aligning with QSEN competencies in fostering safer healthcare environments post-incident.