A nurse is teaching a client about meditation and progressive relaxation to reduce stress. Which of the following instructions should the nurse include?

A. Keep eyes open during relaxation therapy: Keeping the eyes closed is typically recommended during relaxation and meditation to help focus and avoid external distractions. Keeping the eyes open can interfere with the ability to achieve a relaxed state.

B. Tighten and relax muscles during relaxation therapy: Progressive muscle relaxation involves tightening and then relaxing each muscle group to help reduce tension and promote relaxation. This technique helps increase body awareness and alleviate stress.

C. Plan to meditate immediately after meals: Meditating immediately after meals can be uncomfortable because it may cause indigestion or distract from the relaxation process. It’s better to meditate when the stomach is not full to avoid discomfort.

D. Take short and shallow breaths when meditating: Deep and slow breathing is a key component of meditation and relaxation techniques. Short and shallow breaths can increase stress rather than reduce it, as they may activate the body's "fight or flight" response. Deep breathing helps activate the parasympathetic nervous system, which promotes relaxation.

A. "Empty the ostomy pouch when it becomes one-third full of contents.": It is important to empty the ostomy pouch when it is about one-third full to prevent leakage and pressure on the stoma. This helps avoid skin irritation and maintain comfort.

B. "Expect the stoma to turn a purple-blue color as it heals.": A stoma should be a reddish-pink color. A purple or blue color indicates poor circulation and may signal complications such as ischemia, which requires immediate attention.

C. "Cut the opening of the pouch an inch larger than the stoma.": The opening of the ostomy pouch should be cut about one-quarter to one-half inch larger than the stoma to prevent irritation or pressure on the stoma. This ensures a good fit and reduces risk of skin damage.

D. "Place a piece of gauze over the stoma while changing the pouch.": Placing gauze over the stoma during pouch changes protects the skin around the stoma fromcontact with stooland absorbs any drainage.

E. "Use povidone-iodine to clean around the stoma.": Povidone-iodine is too harsh for cleaning the stoma area and may cause skin irritation. The recommended cleaning solution is warm water and mild soap, followed by proper drying, to avoid skin damage and infection.