A nurse is attending a quality improvement meeting. Which of the following actions should the nurse take first when initiating a quality improvement program to address health care-associated infections?

A) "Have you tried holding your infant skin-to-skin?":

While skin-to-skin contact can be beneficial for infant bonding and comfort, the priority for a postoperative infant following a cleft palate repair is to ensure adequate feeding. While skin-to-skin contact can promote bonding and provide comfort, it does not directly address the infant's ability to latch on during breastfeeding, which is crucial for nutritional intake and healing postoperatively.

B) "Is your infant able to latch on during breastfeeding?":

This question addresses the priority concern for the nurse, which is the infant's ability to effectively latch on during breastfeeding. Adequate latch is essential for proper nutrition and hydration, especially for an infant recovering from a cleft palate repair surgery. The nurse needs to assess whether the infant can latch on properly to ensure adequate feeding and support optimal healing.

C) "What is your infant's level of activity?":

While assessing the infant's level of activity is important for overall health and well-being, it is not the priority question in this scenario. The nurse's primary focus should be on assessing the infant's feeding ability and ensuring adequate nutritional intake postoperatively.

D) "Have you considered joining a parents' support group?":

Joining a parents' support group can be valuable for emotional support and sharing experiences, but it is not the priority question in this situation. The immediate concern is ensuring the infant's nutritional needs are being met, particularly in the context of breastfeeding challenges following cleft palate repair surgery.

A) Assist in checking a unit of packed RBCS to administer to a client:

Assisting in checking a unit of packed red blood cells (RBCs) for transfusion is within the nurse's scope of practice. Nurses are responsible for verifying blood products before administration, ensuring compatibility, proper labeling, and appropriate handling to prevent transfusion reactions.

B) Regulate the client's infusion pump after initiating a heparin drip infusion:

Regulating the client's infusion pump after initiating a heparin drip infusion falls within the nurse's scope of practice. Nurses commonly administer and monitor intravenous medications, including heparin drips, and are responsible for regulating the infusion pump to deliver the medication at the prescribed rate.

C) Teach a client about hemodialysis:

Teaching a client about hemodialysis is within the nurse's scope of practice. Patient education is a fundamental aspect of nursing care, and nurses often provide information to clients and their families about various healthcare procedures, treatments, and self-care management, including hemodialysis.

D) Create a plan of care for a client's discharge:

Creating a plan of care for a client's discharge is within the nurse's scope of practice. Nurses are involved in discharge planning, which includes coordinating with the healthcare team, assessing the client's needs, providing education about post-discharge care, arranging follow-up appointments, and ensuring a smooth transition to the next level of care or home.