A nurse is caring for a client who is comatose and has advance directives that indicate the client does not want life-sustaining measures. The client's family wants the client to have life-sustaining measures. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?

A. "How long have you struggled with your weight?" While this may provide background information, it shifts the focus to the client's weight history rather than validating their current emotional experience and distress.
B. "Let's discuss some weight loss strategies that might work for you." This response prematurely shifts to problem-solving and weight management without first addressing the client’s emotional needs or acknowledging their feelings of embarrassment and vulnerability.
C. "It sounds like you're saying that you feel uncomfortable around others." This is a therapeutic, reflective response that validates the client’s feelings and encourages them to express more about their emotional experience, fostering trust and emotional support.
D. "Have you always felt uncomfortable being overweight?" This question may come across as judgmental and focuses too much on the client's body image history rather than their current emotional experience, potentially worsening feelings of shame.

A. Place an ice pack over the cast. While this can help reduce swelling and pain, it is a comfort measure, not the priority. Safety assessments must be completed first before implementing non-urgent interventions.
B. Position the casted extremity on a pillow. Elevation is important to reduce swelling, but it follows after ensuring that circulation to the extremity is intact and that there are no signs of vascular compromise.
C. Teach the client to keep the cast clean and dry. Education is essential for long-term cast care, but it is not the first action after cast application. Immediate post-procedural monitoring takes precedence.
D. Palpate the pulse distal to the cast. The nurse should first assess for adequate circulation by checking distal pulses. This helps identify early signs of complications like compartment syndrome or impaired blood flow, making it the highest priority.