A nurse is caring for a client who has osteoarthritis and reports difficulty buttoning their clothes. The nurse should recommend a referral for the client to which of the following members of the interprofessional team?

Choice A rationale:

Since the client speaks a different language than the nurse, involving an interpreter is crucial to ensure effective communication during the preoperative teaching. This will help the client fully understand the procedure, potential risks, and postoperative care instructions.

Choice B rationale:

A social worker primarily addresses psychosocial needs and resources. While they play an important role, their involvement wouldn't directly address the language barrier during the preoperative teaching.

Choice C rationale:

An occupational therapist assists with physical function and daily activities. While they might be involved postoperatively, their role is not as crucial for overcoming the language barrier during preoperative teaching.

Choice D rationale:

A spiritual advisor provides support based on religious or spiritual beliefs. While emotional and spiritual support are important, their involvement in this scenario doesn't address the language barrier and the need for accurate information during preoperative teaching.

The correct answer is C.

Choice A: Take extra wheelchairs to the emergency department While having extra wheelchairs available can be helpful in a disaster situation, it is not the primary responsibility of the PACU charge nurse. The logistics of equipment distribution would typically be managed by a different team or department.

Choice B: Send PACU assistive personnel to assist with triage Triage is a critical part of disaster response, but it is typically performed by trained emergency department personnel or those with specific training in disaster triage. PACU personnel should focus on their area of expertise, which is post-anesthesia care.

Choice C: Identify stable clients for transfer to a surgical unit This is the correct action. By identifying stable clients for transfer, the PACU charge nurse can free up space for incoming patients who may require immediate post-operative care. This action helps to ensure that the PACU is ready to receive patients who are likely to come from the emergency department after immediate lifesaving interventions.

Choice D: Report to the command center for further instructions While communication with the command center is important in a disaster situation, the PACU charge nurse’s primary responsibility is to manage the care environment and patient flow within their specific unit. Other teams or personnel would likely handle tasks like reporting to the command center.