A nurse is caring for a client who has hearing loss. While communicating with the client, which of the following actions should the nurse take?

A. 1+ pedal edema. Mild pedal edema is typically not associated with instability or falls, unless it progresses to severe swelling that affects mobility or balance. It is a sign of fluid retention but not a direct fall risk indicator on its own.
B. Bruises on the lower extremities. Bruising can be a sign of previous falls or trauma, but it is not itself a cause or indicator of fall risk. While it may prompt further investigation, it does not confirm fall risk independently.
C. Impaired vision. Visual impairment is a significant risk factor for falls because it affects depth perception, ability to detect hazards, and overall spatial awareness. Clients with impaired vision are more likely to trip, misjudge steps, or bump into obstacles.
D. Coarse rhonchi auscultated over the trachea. Coarse rhonchi are respiratory findings typically related to mucus in the airways and do not directly contribute to fall risk unless accompanied by severe respiratory distress or fatigue.

• Endometritis – This uterine infection is one of the most common postpartum complications, especially following cesarean delivery and prolonged rupture of membranes. It often presents with foul-smelling lochia, uterine tenderness, and systemic signs of infection like fever and leukocytosis. This client’s presentation, including foul-smelling lochia and a WBC of 33,000/mm³, strongly supports this diagnosis.
• Mastitis – Typically associated with localized breast pain, redness, swelling, and systemic symptoms like fever. While the client has nipple discomfort and firm breasts, these are common postpartum findings during milk let-down and do not meet the criteria for mastitis, especially without signs of inflammation or localized breast infection.
• Pulmonary embolism – A PE generally presents with sudden-onset chest pain, dyspnea, tachypnea, and hypoxia. This client’s oxygen saturation is normal, lung sounds are clear, and there is no respiratory distress, making PE unlikely.
• Postpartum hemorrhage – Hemorrhage would present with excessive vaginal bleeding, hypotension, tachycardia, and possibly uterine atony. This client’s uterus is firm, lochia is moderate (not heavy), and vital signs are stable, so hemorrhage is not supported by the data.
• Lochia assessment – Foul-smelling lochia is a classic indicator of uterine infection. It points to endometritis when found with other risk factors like cesarean birth, prolonged labor, and signs of systemic inflammation.
• Elevated white blood cell count – A postpartum WBC count may be mildly elevated, but a level of 33,000/mm³ suggests infection. When combined with clinical symptoms like uterine tenderness and malodorous discharge, it supports a diagnosis of endometritis.
• Firm uterus at 1 cm above umbilicus – This finding is expected on postpartum day 3 and indicates normal uterine involution. A firm uterus rules out uterine atony and is not specific to infection or hemorrhage.
• Moderate nipple discomfort – Breast fullness and nipple tenderness are common in breastfeeding mothers, especially in the early postpartum period. This discomfort alone does not indicate mastitis or any systemic infection.