A nurse is preparing to administer a transdermal patch to a client. The nurse notes the client already has a patch that was applied 24 hr ago. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?

A. Fold the existing patch on itself and dispose of it in a childproof container: The nurse should remove the old patch before applying a new one to avoid excessive medication delivery. The patch should be folded on itself to prevent accidental exposure to the medication and disposed of safely in a childproof container to prevent potential harm.

B. Shave the client's lower leg for placement of the new patch: Shaving can irritate the skin and increase the absorption of the medication, leading to an increased risk of side effects. The patch should be applied to clean, dry, and intact skin without shaving the area.

C. Keep the existing patch on and place the new patch in a different location: The old patch should be removed before applying a new one to prevent an overdose of medication. Placing a new patch over an old one can lead to excessive drug absorption,.

D. Discard the old patch and apply a new one in the same location: While the old patch should be discarded, it is not recommended to apply a new patch in the exact same location. Rotating the patch sites is important to prevent skin irritation and promote better absorption.

A. Make a priority list of information the client should learn: While making a priority list of information is important, it should come after assessing the client's learning needs. This ensures that the most relevant and important information is prioritized.

B. Determine the client's learning needs: The first step in planning teaching is to assess the client’s learning needs. This allows the nurse to tailor the teaching plan to the client’s level of understanding, cultural preferences, and specific concerns related to the central venous access device.

C. Obtain written information to give the client: Written information is helpful but should not be the first step. It is more effective when tailored to the client’s learning needs, which should be assessed first to ensure relevance.

D. Select a visual method to reinforce verbal teaching for the client: Visual methods can be helpful for reinforcing verbal teaching, but this step should follow the assessment of the client’s learning needs. Teaching strategy should align with the client’s preferred learning style.