A nurse in a clinic is caring for a client who is pregnant and asks how she should help her 4-year-old son prepare for the new baby. Which of the following statements should the nurse make?

Rationale:

A. “The hospital food is more nutritious for you”: This response dismisses the client’s cultural preferences and assumes hospital food is superior without acknowledging personal or traditional choices, which may negatively affect rapport and trust.

B. “Of course, I will heat that up for you.” This response respects the client’s cultural beliefs and supports individualized postpartum care. Seaweed soup is a traditional food in some cultures believed to aid in postpartum recovery and milk production.

C. “Why are you eating seaweed soup?” Asking this without sensitivity can come off as judgmental or culturally insensitive. The client may feel criticized or misunderstood, even if the nurse is simply curious.

D. “Does the doctor know that you are eating that?” This implies that the food might be unsafe or needs medical approval, which can be perceived as disrespectful or unnecessary unless there’s a clinical reason for concern.

Rationale:

A. Email the client's health information to the facility in an unencrypted file: Sending unencrypted emails violates HIPAA standards, as it risks unauthorized access to protected health information. All electronic transmissions must be secured to ensure client confidentiality.

B. Fax the client's name and identifiable information to the rehabilitation: Faxing identifiable information can be permissible if proper safeguards are used, but without assurance of security or a cover sheet, this could breach confidentiality. It’s not the best initial action without those protections.

C. Discuss the client's response to the transfer with another staff nurse: Unless the other nurse is directly involved in the client’s care, this discussion is unnecessary and breaches confidentiality. Health information should only be shared on a need-to-know basis.

D. Provide a verbal report of the client's condition to the paramedic: Providing a verbal handoff to the paramedic is appropriate and necessary for continuity of care during transfer. It is a secure, direct communication method that supports both confidentiality and patient safety.