A nurse is replacing a dressing for a client who has an abdominal incision with a closed wound drain. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?

Choice A Reason:

Avoid entering the client's room unless requested during the night is inappropriate. While minimizing entries can reduce disruptions, it's important for the nurse to perform necessary checks and care interventions. Avoiding the room completely might compromise the client's safety or care.

Choice B Reason:

Turn off alarms on bedside monitoring equipment is inappropriate. Disabling alarms can jeopardize patient safety as these alarms often indicate critical changes in the client's condition. Adjusting alarm settings or investigating if noise levels can be reduced without compromising safety would be more appropriate.

Choice C Reason:

Conduct staff communications away from the client's room is appropriate. This intervention helps minimize noise levels near the client's room, creating a quieter environment conducive to sleep. Staff conducting communications away from the room reduces unnecessary disturbances that might affect the client's rest.

Choice D Reason:

Turn on the client's TV to distract from hallway noise is inappropriate. Introducing more noise, such as from a TV, might not effectively address the issue of sleep disturbance due to external noise. Additionally, it's essential to respect the client's preferences, and some may prefer a quiet environment for sleep rather than additional noise from a TV.

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).