A nurse is caring for a client who has expressive aphasia. Which of the following techniques should the nurse use to meet the communication needs of this client?

A. Impaired hearing: Impaired hearing can increase the risk of injury by reducing the client’s ability to hear alarms or warnings. However, it is considered a sensory impairment rather than a lifestyle choice.

B. Reduced health literacy: Low health literacy can contribute to poor understanding of safety instructions and adherence to precautions, increasing injury risk. Nonetheless, it relates more to knowledge deficits than lifestyle behaviors.

C. Lower extremity weakness: Weakness in the legs increases fall risk due to impaired mobility and balance. This is a physical or functional risk factor rather than a lifestyle risk.

D. Texting while driving: Texting while driving is a high-risk lifestyle behavior directly associated with increased injury and accident rates. It involves voluntary behavior that compromises safety and is a preventable cause of injury.

A. Interlock their fingers and hold their hands away from their body above their waist: This position maintains the sterility of the gloves by keeping the hands visible and above waist level, which is the accepted sterile field boundary.

B. Keep their arms at the sides of their body with their hands in a relaxed position: Keeping hands close to the body or at the sides risks contamination because the hands might touch nonsterile surfaces or the body, which is outside the sterile field.

C. Place one hand over the other against the part of the gown covering their upper body: Touching the gown, which is considered sterile only in the front above the waist, can risk contamination if hands move unexpectedly or if the gown surface is touched by nonsterile areas.

D. Clasp their hands together in a relaxed position behind their body at their waist: Positioning hands behind the back limits visibility and control over the sterile field, increasing the risk of contamination by touching nonsterile surfaces or moving out of the sterile boundary.