A nurse is caring for a client who asks for information about advance directives and states, “I want to make sure my wishes are respected.” Which of the following responses should the nurse make?

Choice A reason: Referring to a mental health clinic addresses potential emotional distress but not the adolescent’s primary concern of affordability. Pregnancy increases psychological stress, but financial barriers to prenatal care are critical. This action fails to ensure access to medical resources, essential for maternal and fetal health in adolescent pregnancy.
Choice B reason: Contacting the adolescent’s parent risks breaching confidentiality, depending on legal guidelines, and does not address financial concerns directly. Family dynamics may complicate support, and without consent, this action could increase stress, failing to provide immediate healthcare access critical for a healthy pregnancy outcome.
Choice C reason: Assisting with Medicaid application directly addresses financial concerns, ensuring access to prenatal care, delivery, and postpartum support. Medicaid reduces risks like preterm birth by covering medical and nutritional needs, critical for adolescent mothers with limited resources, aligning with public health goals for maternal-fetal well-being.
Choice D reason: Advising adoption is premature and overlooks the adolescent’s autonomy. Adoption requires extensive counseling, not immediate recommendation. It fails to address healthcare access, critical for a healthy pregnancy. This approach dismisses financial solutions, potentially increasing stress and undermining informed decision-making in pregnancy.

Choice A reason: A BMI of 32 indicates obesity, a risk factor for surgical wound infections due to impaired tissue perfusion, reduced immune response, and prolonged healing. Excess adipose tissue increases infection likelihood, aligning with evidence-based risk factors, making this the correct finding to identify.
Choice B reason: A temperature of 36.8°C is normal and does not indicate infection risk. Fever (>38°C) post-surgery might suggest infection, but this value reflects stable physiology, making it an incorrect indicator for assessing wound infection risk in this client.
Choice C reason: A white blood cell count of 8,000/mm³ is within normal range (5,000-10,000/mm³) and does not indicate infection risk. Elevated counts suggest active infection, but this value is unremarkable, making it incorrect for identifying infection risk post-surgery.
Choice D reason: A blood glucose of 90 mg/dL is normal (74-106 mg/dL) and does not increase infection risk. Hyperglycemia (>140 mg/dL) impairs immune function, but this value indicates good control, making it incorrect for assessing wound infection risk.