A nurse is reinforcing discharge instructions with a client who is walking with crutches. Which of the following statements by the client indicates an understanding of the instructions?

Choice Reason:
Occupational Therapist is incorrect. Occupational therapists focus on helping individuals regain or enhance their ability to perform daily activities and tasks. While they might not directly address dysphagia or swallowing concerns, they could assist in modifying the environment or providing adaptive equipment to facilitate eating, such as recommending specialized utensils or adapting seating positions to support safe eating practices.

Choice B Reason:
Physical Therapist is incorrect. Physical therapists primarily concentrate on restoring mobility, strength, and function in individuals who have experienced injuries or illnesses affecting movement. While they might not directly address dysphagia, they could be involved in helping patients with postural adjustments or exercises that indirectly support safe eating and swallowing.

Choice C Reason:
Respiratory Therapist is incorrect. Respiratory therapists specialize in assessing and treating breathing problems and disorders related to the lungs and respiratory system. While they may not focus directly on dysphagia, they can be involved in managing respiratory complications that can arise from aspiration, such as pneumonia. They might assist in suctioning, breathing exercises, or respiratory treatments in cases where aspiration has led to lung issues.

Choice D Reason:
Speech therapists, also known as speech-language pathologists, is correct because it specializes in evaluating and treating communication and swallowing disorders. They work with individuals who have experienced strokes or other conditions affecting swallowing abilities to improve their swallowing function and reduce the risk of aspiration (when food or liquid enters the airway instead of the digestive tract).

Choice A Reason:

Using the FACES pain scale to gauge the client's level of pain is appropriate. This scale relies on the client's ability to understand and communicate using a specific language, which might not be possible if there is a language barrier.

Choice B Reason:

Using a communication board to interact with the client is inappropriate. While communication boards can be helpful, they might not effectively gauge the client's level of pain, especially if the client's primary language isn't available on the board.

Choice C Reason:

Using the Face, Legs, Activity, Cry, Consolability (FLACC) scale to measure the client's pain level is appropriate. The FLACC scale is a pain assessment tool that evaluates pain in nonverbal patients or those who can't communicate effectively. It assesses facial expressions, leg movement, activity level, crying, and consolability to determine the level of pain the patient is experiencing.

Choice D Reason:

Asking an assistive personnel who speaks the same language as the client to interpret is inappropriate. Relying on an interpreter, even if they speak the same language as the client, might not be the best approach for pain assessment, as nuances related to pain expression and interpretation might be better captured through a standardized pain assessment tool like the FLACC scale.