A nurse is caring for a client who has had a myocardial infarction. Upon his first visit to cardiac rehabilitation, he tells the nurse that he doesn't understand why he needs to be there because there is nothing more to do, as the damage is done. Which of the following is the correct nursing response?

Planning to lower saturated fats to 10 percent of the daily calorie intake is a good dietary recommendation for a client who has hypertension, as it can help lower cholesterol, prevent atherosclerosis, and reduce the risk of cardiovascular complications.

a. "Limit your alcohol consumption to three drinks a day." is not correct, as it is too high for a client who has hypertension. The client should limit alcohol consumption to no more than one drink a day for women and two drinks a day for men, as alcohol can increase blood pressure and interfere with medication effectiveness.

c. "Diuretics are the first type of medication to control hypertension." is not accurate, as diuretics are not always the first choice of medication for hypertension. The choice of medication depends on the client's individual factors, such as age, race, comorbidities, and contraindications. Diuretics are one of the classes of antihypertensive drugs that can be used alone or in combination with other drugs.

d. "Reaching your goal blood pressure will occur within 2 months." is not realistic, as reaching the goal blood pressure may take longer than 2 months, depending on the client's baseline blood pressure, response to treatment, adherence to lifestyle modifications, and presence of other conditions. The client should monitor his blood pressure regularly and follow up with the provider as needed.

The priority nursing action is to notify the provider of the client's allergy because shellfish allergy may indicate an allergy to iodine, which is commonly used as a contrast dye in cardiac catheterization. This could cause a severe allergic reaction or anaphylaxis during the procedure, which could be life-threatening. The provider may need to order a different type of contrast dye or premedicate the client with antihistamines or steroids to prevent an allergic reaction.

a. Ask the client if any other foods cause such a reaction is wrong because it is not the priority action and it does not address the potential risk of iodine allergy.

c. Notify the dietary department of the client's allergy is wrong because it is not relevant to the cardiac catheterization and it does not prevent an allergic reaction during the procedure.

d. Atach a wrist band indicating the client's allergy is wrong because it is not sufficient to alert the provider or the catheterization team of the client's allergy and it does not prevent an allergic reaction during the procedure.