A nurse is assisting with the admission of a client who has varicella zoster.

Which of the following interventions should the nurse plan to implement?

A. Create an opening on the skin barrier that is 1.27 cm (0.5 in) larger than the client's stoma.The opening on the skin barrier should be cut to fit closely around the stoma, approximately 0.3-0.6 cm (1/8 to 1/4 inch) larger than the stoma size. A larger opening (like 0.5 inches) could expose too much surrounding skin, increasing the risk of skin irritation from contact with the stoma's effluent.

B. Use a moisturizing soap to clean the skin around the client's stoma.Moisturizing soaps should be avoided because they can leave a residue on the skin, which may interfere with the adhesion of the ostomy appliance. The skin around the stoma should be cleaned with mild soap and water, or water alone, and then dried thoroughly before applying the new appliance.

C. Empty the client's ostomy pouch before removing the skin barrier.Emptying the ostomy pouch before removing the skin barrier is a practical step to reduce spillage of stool during the appliance change, making the process cleaner and easier to manage. It also minimizes the risk of contamination of the surrounding area or wound.

D. Change the client's ostomy appliance 1 hour after breakfast.Ostomy appliances are best changed when the bowel is least active, which is usually before a meal or several hours after eating. Changing the appliance shortly after a meal, such as 1 hour after breakfast, may result in more stoma output, making it harder to manage the appliance change.

Explanation

Correct answer: A

A.It is important to document the location of the identification tag to ensure proper identification of the body. This is crucial for legal and administrative purposes and helps prevent any potential confusion or misidentification.

B.A copy of the client's advance directivesis an important document for healthcare providers to have during the client's care but is not typically included in the post-mortem documentation. Advance directives are typically stored separately and are more relevant to the client's care while they are alive.

C. Cause of the client's death: Determining and documenting the cause of death is typically the responsibility of the attending physician or medical examiner, not the nurse.

D.The last set of the client's vital signs in (option D) may be relevant during the client's care and treatment but may not be specifically included in the post-mortem documentation. The focus of post-mortem documentation is usually on aspects such as the cause of death, time of death, interventions performed, and any significant findings related to the client's condition or autopsy.