A nurse is reinforcing teaching with a client on measures to promote their sleep. Which of the following instructions should the nurse include in the teaching?

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.

• Apply cooling blanket: The client has an elevated temperature (38.3°C/100.9°F), which could suggest early signs of thyroid storm, a life-threatening complication after thyroid surgery. Applying a cooling blanket is an appropriate non-pharmacological intervention to help manage hyperthermia without medications that could worsen symptoms.

• Monitor vital signs every 4 hours: Frequent monitoring of vital signs is critical after thyroidectomy to detect early signs of complications such as thyroid storm, hemorrhage, or airway compromise. Vital sign changes can provide early warning signs of clinical deterioration and allow for rapid intervention.

• Place client on telemetry: Thyroid storm and other thyroid-related crises can cause arrhythmias, including tachycardia and atrial fibrillation. Continuous cardiac monitoring is anticipated to quickly detect and manage any rhythm disturbances that may arise postoperatively.

• Palpate thyroid area to assess for hematoma: After a thyroidectomy, it is essential to assess for hematoma formation, as hematomas can compress the airway and become life-threatening. Regular palpation of the surgical site helps detect swelling, firmness, or respiratory distress early.

• Administer aspirin for fever: Aspirin is not recommended for fever management in postoperative thyroidectomy clients because it can displace thyroid hormones from binding proteins, potentially worsening thyrotoxicosis. Fever should be managed with other antipyretics like acetaminophen or physical cooling methods instead.