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. "My home has running water and electricity." This statement suggests adequate access to basic utilities, which supports hygiene and reduces risk for illness. It does not indicate a health risk.
B. "I eat vegetables directly from the field where I work." This poses a significant health risk due to potential pesticide exposure and contamination with harmful chemicals or microbes. Produce should be properly washed before consumption to reduce the risk of illness or poisoning.
C. "I wear a hat and long sleeves while I am working." This is a protective behavior, helping to reduce sun exposure, skin damage, and pesticide contact, and is not a health risk.
D. "I am currently sharing my home with two roommates." While crowded living conditions can pose some risk, this alone does not indicate a major health concern, especially if basic sanitation and ventilation are adequate.

• Deep vein syndrome: This is not a recognized condition. The intended term may have been deep vein thrombosis (DVT), which is a valid orthopedic complication, but the clinical findings in this scenario point more urgently toward compartment syndrome and infection.
• Osteomyelitis: The client has an open fracture with drainage from the splint, a significantly elevated WBC count (28,000/mm³), and a high fever (38.9°C / 102°F). These findings suggest the development of a bone infection (osteomyelitis), especially in the context of recent surgery and internal fixation.
• Fat embolism syndrome: While fat embolism is a risk with long bone fractures, this client is not displaying key hallmark signs such as respiratory distress, petechiae, or altered mental status. The findings are more consistent with infection and circulatory compromise.
• Compartment syndrome: The client has classic signs including cool foot, numbness, inability to move toes, absent pulses, delayed capillary refill, and increased pain. These are hallmark signs of neurovascular compromise from compartment syndrome, a surgical emergency.