A nurse is reinforcing teaching about foot care to a client who has diabetes mellitus. Which of the following information should the nurse include in the teaching?

• Placenta previa: Placenta previa occurs later in pregnancy and is characterized by painless bright red vaginal bleeding without abdominal tenderness. The client is only 6 weeks pregnant, and placenta previa is not a concern this early in gestation.
• abruptio placentae: Abruptio placentae involves painful bleeding and a rigid uterus, usually occurring after 20 weeks' gestation. The client’s gestational age and presenting symptoms are more consistent with an early pregnancy complication rather than abruptio placentae.
• ectopic pregnancy: This occurs when a fertilized egg implants outside the uterus. The client’s missed period, positive pregnancy test, right lower quadrant tenderness, and dark red vaginal spotting are classic signs of ectopic pregnancy. Ectopic pregnancy is a life-threatening emergency if rupture occurs, requiring prompt identification and management.
• acute asthma attack: While the client has a history of asthma and slight inspiratory wheezing, her respiratory status is stable with normal oxygen saturation and no signs of acute respiratory distress. Therefore, an asthma attack is not the primary concern.
• pyelonephritis: Pyelonephritis typically presents with fever, chills, flank pain, and urinary symptoms. The client’s presentation of right lower quadrant tenderness and vaginal spotting does not align with the typical findings of pyelonephritis.
• respiratory rate: The client’s respiratory rate is normal at 16/min, indicating stable respiratory function. Respiratory rate does not explain the primary concern related to abdominal pain and vaginal bleeding.
• history of regular menstrual period: While this supports that the client is late in her cycle, it is not the most direct or critical finding pointing toward the diagnosis. The focus should be on current clinical signs like abdominal tenderness.
• temperature: The client’s temperature is within normal range at 37.3°C (99.1°F), making infection less likely and not the primary concern related to her current symptoms.
• right lower quadrant abdominal tenderness: Localized tenderness in the right lower quadrant combined with vaginal spotting strongly suggests an ectopic pregnancy. This is a hallmark finding that supports the diagnosis as the growing embryo can cause irritation, stretching, or rupture of the fallopian tube.
• hyperactive bowel sounds: Hyperactive bowel sounds are nonspecific and can occur due to anxiety, mild gastrointestinal upset, or pain, but they are not diagnostic for ectopic pregnancy. The abdominal tenderness is the more significant finding.

A. A client who requires sterile dressing changes every three hours: Sterile dressing changes require skilled nursing care and must be performed by a licensed nurse. An assistive personnel (AP) is not trained or authorized to perform sterile procedures, making this assignment inappropriate.

B. A client who has a small bowel obstruction and requires insertion of a nasogastric tube: Inserting a nasogastric tube is an invasive procedure that requires clinical judgment and proper technique, which are responsibilities of licensed nursing staff, not assistive personnel.

C. A client who is postoperative and requires intake and output measurement every 2 hr: Measuring and recording intake and output is within the scope of practice for assistive personnel. It is a routine, noninvasive task that does not require nursing assessment or judgment.

D. A client on hospice who is unstable and requires frequent vital sign checks: An unstable hospice client requires close monitoring and clinical assessment. Although assistive personnel can measure vital signs, evaluating changes and determining their significance must be done by licensed nursing staff.