A nurse is caring for a client who is 24 hr postpartum and is breastfeeding her newborn. The client asks the nurse to warm up seaweed soup that the client's partner brought for her. Which of the following responses should the nurse make?

A. Wear clothing with zippers instead of buttons. This may be helpful for caregivers or for promoting independence in dressing, but it does not directly enhance safety in the home for a client with Alzheimer’s disease.
B. Place locks at the tops of exterior doors. Clients with Alzheimer’s are at risk for wandering, especially in later stages. Placing locks at the tops of doors helps prevent elopement while still allowing caregivers to control access, thus enhancing home safety.
C. Replace the carpet with hardwood floors. Carpets can actually provide more traction and cushioning than hardwood, which may be slippery and increase the risk of falls. Removing carpet is not necessary and could reduce safety.
D. Encourage physical activity prior to bedtime. Physical activity is beneficial but should be scheduled earlier in the day, as exercise close to bedtime may increase stimulation and interfere with sleep, which is already often disrupted in Alzheimer’s clients.

A. Apply the largest cuff available. Using a cuff that is too large can result in falsely low readings. Cuff size should match the client’s arm circumference to ensure accuracy, but simply switching to the largest cuff does not resolve difficulty in auscultation.
B. Deflate the cuff quickly. Rapid deflation can cause the nurse to miss the systolic and diastolic sounds, making it harder to obtain an accurate reading. The cuff should be deflated at a steady rate of 2–3 mmHg per second.
C. Use the palpatory method to determine blood pressure. When sounds are difficult to auscultate, the palpatory method is a reliable alternative. This involves palpating the radial pulse while inflating the cuff to estimate systolic pressure, which helps guide a more accurate auscultatory attempt.
D. Place the arm above the level of the client's heart. Elevating the arm above heart level can lower the pressure artificially, resulting in an inaccurate measurement. For correct results, the arm should be supported at heart level.