A nurse is caring for a client who has a new colostomy and states they are not ready to look at the stoma. Which of the following teaching strategies is helpful and encourages the client to share their feelings about the colostomy?

Choice A reason: Practicing effective hand hygiene is the most important strategy for preventing the transmission of hepatitis A. The virus is primarily spread through the fecal-oral route, often due to poor handwashing practices. Ensuring proper handwashing can significantly reduce the risk of spreading the virus to others.
Choice B reason: Avoiding serving raw foods can help prevent foodborne illnesses, but it is not specific to preventing the transmission of hepatitis A. The focus should be on hygiene practices rather than food preparation alone.
Choice C reason: Wearing barrier protection during vaginal intercourse is more relevant to preventing the transmission of sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Hepatitis A is not typically transmitted through sexual contact, making this strategy less relevant.
Choice D reason: Avoiding eating at fast food restaurants may reduce the risk of foodborne illnesses in general, but it does not specifically address the prevention of hepatitis A transmission. Hand hygiene remains the primary preventive measure.

Choice A reason: Increasing need for pain medication is not a typical outcome expected when a client is educated about their new colostomy. Proper education can help manage and reduce pain through better understanding and care techniques. The objective is often to reduce discomfort by teaching clients how to care for their colostomy properly, thus reducing complications and the associated pain.
Choice B reason: Report of empowerment is the expected outcome. Education aims to make the client feel capable and confident in managing their new condition. Empowerment indicates that the client understands their condition and feels confident in their ability to manage their colostomy, which can improve their overall quality of life and reduce the psychological impact of the procedure. Empowerment also helps in reducing the dependency on healthcare professionals and promotes self-care.
Choice C reason: An increase in the length of care in the healthcare facility is not an expected outcome. Proper patient education should ideally reduce the length of stay in the healthcare facility by equipping the client with the knowledge and skills needed to manage their colostomy at home, thus reducing the need for prolonged hospital stays.
Choice D reason: Reporting of anxiety is not the desired outcome. While some initial anxiety might be expected, the goal of patient education is to reduce anxiety by providing the client with the necessary information and skills to feel confident in managing their colostomy. Effective education should help alleviate anxiety by addressing concerns and providing support and reassurance.