A nurse is assessing a client who is immediately postoperative following abdominal surgery. The nurse notes serosanguineous drainage on the dressing. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?

A. Interpret the client's need for pain medication: Determining the need for analgesia requires professional nursing judgment and assessment, which is outside the AP’s scope of practice. The nurse must evaluate pain and make medication decisions.

B. Change a sterile dressing on a client's open incisional wound: Sterile dressing changes involve invasive procedures and assessment of wound healing, which are nursing responsibilities. APs can assist with non-sterile care but cannot perform sterile interventions independently.

C. Educate a client on the use of a glucometer: Patient education involves teaching, assessing understanding, and clinical judgment, all of which require nursing expertise. APs can reinforce teaching but cannot independently instruct clients on medical device use.

D. Perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation on a client: CPR is a basic life-saving procedure that APs are trained and authorized to perform in emergencies. This task falls within the AP’s scope of practice and can be done under general supervision until advanced help arrives.

A. "Bacterial meningitis can be prevented with immunization": Vaccines such as the meningococcal, pneumococcal, and Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) vaccines significantly reduce the risk of bacterial meningitis. Immunization is a primary preventive measure, especially for high-risk populations, including children, adolescents, and certain adults.

B. "Bacterial meningitis is an infection that causes inflammation of the sinus cavity.": Bacterial meningitis causes inflammation of the meninges, which are the protective membranes covering the brain and spinal cord, not the sinuses. Confusing the site of infection can lead to inappropriate assessment and treatment.

C. "Bacterial meningitis is spread by contaminated food or water; therefore, infection is unlikely": This statement is incorrect because bacterial meningitis is typically spread through respiratory droplets, close contact, or asymptomatic carriers, not through food or water.

D. "Bacterial meningitis rarely occurs in young adults unless their immune system is suppressed.": Young adults, particularly those in communal settings like college dorms or military barracks, are at increased risk regardless of immune status. Immunocompetent individuals can still acquire bacterial meningitis.