A nurse is contacting an occupational therapist for a client who had a stroke with right-sided weakness and has difficulty eating. Which of the following roles should the nurse expect the occupational therapist to perform?

A. Pain rating of 4 on a scale of 0 to 10: Mild to moderate pain is expected in the early postoperative period due to surgical trauma. While pain should be monitored, a rating of 4 is not specific for infection and can be considered within normal postoperative discomfort.

B. Temperature of 37.2° C (99.0°F): A slightly elevated temperature within the normal range is common after surgery due to inflammatory response. It does not necessarily indicate infection unless it continues to rise or is accompanied by other systemic signs.

C. Increased urinary output: Increased urine output is generally a positive sign of adequate renal perfusion and fluid balance. It is not indicative of infection and may instead reflect normal postoperative recovery or fluid administration.

D. Elevated WBC count: Leukocytosis is a key laboratory indicator of infection. An elevated white blood cell count suggests an inflammatory or infectious process, which is particularly concerning in the postoperative period and warrants further assessment and intervention.

A. Copy of the client's advance directives: Advance directives are part of the client’s legal and medical record but are not included in postmortem documentation. Postmortem charting focuses on care provided after death and body identification rather than prior treatment preferences.

B. Cause of the client's death: Determining and documenting the cause of death is the responsibility of the provider, not the nurse. The nurse may document the time death was pronounced and by whom, but listing the cause exceeds the nursing scope of documentation.

C. Location of the identification tag on the client's body: Proper identification is a critical component of postmortem care to ensure correct body handling and prevent errors. Documenting the placement of identification tags supports legal requirements and continuity of care through the morgue and funeral services.

D. Last set of the client's vital signs: Vital signs are not obtained or documented after death has occurred. Postmortem documentation focuses on confirmation of death, care of the body, and disposition rather than physiological measurements.