A nurse is discussing effective communication techniques for a client who has visual impairment with a newly licensed nurse. Which of the following statements by the nurse indicates an understanding of the teaching?

A. Calories. Significant increases in caloric intake are not necessary during the first trimester. Most women do not require additional calories until the second and third trimesters, when fetal growth accelerates.
B. Folate. Folate (or folic acid) is crucial during early pregnancy, particularly in the first trimester, to prevent neural tube defects such as spina bifida. Women are advised to increase folate intake before conception and during early pregnancy.
C. Calcium. Calcium needs increase later in pregnancy when the fetus's bone development intensifies. While important throughout pregnancy, calcium is not the most critical nutrient to increase specifically in the first trimester.
D. Protein. Protein is essential for fetal growth, but increased protein needs become more important in the second and third trimesters when fetal tissue development peaks. Early pregnancy focuses more on folate supplementation for neural development.

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.