A nurse is admitting a client who is 1 week postpartum and reports excessive vaginal bleeding. The nurse speaks a different language than the client. The client's partner and 10-year-old child are accompanying her. Which of the following actions should the nurse take to gather the client's admission data?

Choice A reason

Empowering the client to feel in charge of his life is essential for promoting coping and a sense of control over the situation. However, it may not be the first priority when the client's safety is in question.

Choice B reason:

Finding the client, a temporary shelter where he can feel safe is important for meeting the client's immediate physical needs, but it can be addressed after ensuring his emotional well-being and safety.

Choice C reason

The client's partner has died in a traumatic event, and the loss of both a loved one and their home can be emotionally overwhelming and distressing. The nurse's first priority should be to assess the client's safety and well-being, especially considering the potential for thoughts of self-harm or suicide.

Assessing for thoughts of self-harm is critical because the client may be experiencing intense grief, guilt, or hopelessness, which can increase the risk of self-harm or suicidal ideation. Identifying these thoughts early allows the nurse to initiate appropriate interventions, provide emotional support, and involve mental health professionals if necessary.

Choice D reason

Reviewing the client's available social support system is significant for addressing the client's emotional needs and establishing a support network. However, ensuring the client's safety takes precedence over this action.

A. Correct. The nurse should initiate seizure precautions for a client who is at 33 weeks of gestation and has severe gestational hypertension, which is a blood pressure of 160/110 mm Hg or higher on two occasions at least 4 hr apart, or once with signs of end-organ damage. Severe gestational hypertension can lead to preeclampsia, which is a condition characterized by hypertension, proteinuria, and edema, and can progress to eclampsia, which is a life-threatening complication that involves seizures.

B. Incorrect. The nurse does not need to initiate seizure precautions for a client who is at 16 weeks of gestation and has a hydatidiform mole, which is an abnormal growth of placental tissue that resembles grape-like clusters. A hydatidiform mole can cause vaginal bleeding, hyperemesis gravidarum, and elevated human chorionic gonadotropin levels, but it does not increase the risk of seizures.

C. Incorrect. The nurse does not need to initiate seizure precautions for a client who is at 28 weeks of gestation and is experiencing vaginal bleeding, which can have various causes such as placenta previa, placental abruption, or cervical trauma. Vaginal bleeding can indicate a potential hemorrhage, but it does not increase the risk of seizures.

D. Incorrect. The nurse does not need to initiate seizure precautions for a client who is at 36 weeks of gestation and has a positive group B streptococcal culture, which means that the client has bacteria in their vagina or rectum that can cause infection in the newborn during delivery. A positive group B streptococcal culture requires antibiotic prophylaxis during labor, but it does not increase the risk of seizures.