A nurse is developing a discharge plan for a client who is postoperative and will require a wheelchair in the home. The nurse should place a referral to which of the following resources to assist the client with this need?

Choice A rationale:

The age of the client might influence the care plan and potential complications, but it's not the primary factor for evaluating cost effectiveness. Cost efficiency is more directly related to the resources utilized during the client's stay.

Choice B rationale:

The availability of community support groups contributes to the client's psychosocial well-being and support network, but it doesn't directly assist in evaluating the cost effectiveness of care. This factor focuses more on the quality of life after discharge.

Choice C rationale:

This is the correct choice. The length of the client's stay directly impacts the cost of care. A longer stay involves more resources, medications, and services, leading to increased costs. Evaluating and optimizing the length of stay is a critical aspect of cost-effective care.

Choice D rationale:

The type of insurance the client carries affects their financial responsibility for the care received, but it's not the main consideration for evaluating cost effectiveness. It primarily influences the patient's out-of-pocket expenses rather than the overall cost of care.

The correct answer is choice B: Perform a chart review to gather data about the clients who developed infections.

Choice A rationale: Conducting an in-service on proper catheter insertion and maintenance may be helpful in addressing the issue but should not be the first step.

Choice B rationale: Performing a chart review to gather data about the clients who developed infections is an essential first step. This allows the nurse manager to analyze potential trends or common factors contributing to the infections, which can help identify specific areas for improvement or intervention (NurseLabs, n.d.).

Choice C rationale: Observing each staff nurse perform a urinary catheter insertion could help identify improper techniques that contribute to the infections. However, this is time-consuming and should be done after a chart review has been conducted.

Choice D rationale: Requiring completion of a self-paced instruction program might improve staff knowledge, but it should not be the first action taken by the nurse manager.

In conclusion, the nurse manager should first perform a chart review to gather data about the clients who developed urinary tract infections. This will help identify possible factors contributing to the infections and guide the nurse manager in developing targeted interventions to address the issue.