A nurse is reinforcing dietary teaching with a client who is at 12 weeks of gestation. Which of the following statements should the nurse make?

A. "Provide informational updates to members of the media" is incorrect. This task typically falls under the responsibility of the hospital’s public relations or communications team. Nurses do not usually handle media updates in the context of mass casualty events.

B. "Assist in discharging stable clients to home" is correct. During a mass casualty event, it is important to make room for incoming patients. Discharging stable patients helps free up beds and resources for those who need immediate care.

C. "Delegate tasks to emergency health care specialists" is incorrect. While nurses may delegate some tasks, the nurse’s primary responsibility in this scenario would be managing care within the medical-surgical unit, not directing emergency health care specialists.

D. "Determine the acuity and number of casualties arriving at the facility" is incorrect. This task is generally managed by triage teams or emergency management staff who assess incoming patients at the point of injury or arrival at the facility.

A. "Count the client's respirations for 15 seconds" is incorrect. The nurse should count respirations for a full 60 seconds to ensure accuracy, especially in postoperative clients, as irregularities may be more easily detected with a longer observation period.

B. "Place the client in a supine position" is not necessary. While the position of the client can affect respiration, the nurse does not need to place the client in a supine position specifically to assess respirations. The client should be in a comfortable position that allows for adequate observation.

C. "Inform the client when beginning to observe his respirations" is incorrect. The client should not be aware that their respirations are being counted, as awareness can alter their breathing patterns and lead to inaccurate data.

D. "Observe the movements of the client's chest wall" is correct. Observing the chest wall allows the nurse to assess the rate, depth, and rhythm of respirations, as well as any signs of distress or abnormal patterns, which is crucial for monitoring postoperative respiratory status.