A nurse is reinforcing teaching with a caregiver about how to safely prepare formula for their 3-day-old newborn. Which of the following statements should the nurse include in the teaching?

Rationale:

A. Occupational therapist: An occupational therapist helps clients regain skills for daily living and can assess driving ability, but they are not typically responsible for arranging transportation or addressing confidence-related psychosocial issues. A referral may follow but is not the first step here.

B. Social worker: A social worker assists clients with coping and resource coordination, including transportation services, community support, and addressing emotional or confidence barriers. This makes them the most appropriate referral when a client is unsure about attending follow-up care.

C. Primary care provider: While the PCP oversees general medical care and referrals, they are not responsible for coordinating transportation. The nurse can directly initiate a more appropriate referral rather than relying on the PCP for this non-medical concern.

D. Physical therapist: A physical therapist focuses on improving physical function, mobility, and strength. They do not handle transportation issues or confidence concerns related to attending appointments, making them less relevant in this context.

Rationale:

 • Report of menstrual cycle: The client’s last menstrual period was 3 months ago, indicating amenorrhea. This is commonly seen in hyperthyroidism due to hormonal imbalances that interfere with normal menstrual regulation.

 • Weight change: She reports a 3-month history of unintentional weight loss with a good appetite, which reflects the increased metabolic rate typically caused by elevated thyroid hormone levels in hyperthyroidism.

 • Skin condition: Her skin is described as warm and moist, which is consistent with hyperthyroidism. Excess thyroid hormone increases heat production and stimulates the sweat glands.

 • Neck exam: The presence of a visible goiter suggests thyroid gland enlargement, often due to overstimulation by thyroid-stimulating immunoglobulins in autoimmune hyperthyroidism like Graves' disease. A goiter can occur in Hypothyroidism (e.g., Hashimoto's thyroiditis) as the gland tries to compensate. Therefore, this finding is consistent with both.

 • Laboratory results: Elevated T3 (230 ng/dL), free T4 (3.4 ng/dL), and TSI (150%) confirm hyperthyroidism. These values exceed the normal range and strongly indicate an overactive thyroid gland.

 • Eye appearance: Exophthalmos (protruding eyes) is observed, a hallmark of Graves’ disease. This autoimmune feature is linked exclusively to hyperthyroidism and is caused by inflammation and tissue buildup behind the eyes.