A nurse is teaching a client who has a new diagnosis of diabetes mellitus about foot care.

Which of the following instructions should the nurse include in the teaching?

This is a sign of preeclampsia, a serious complication of pregnancy that can cause high blood pressure, proteinuria, and seizures.

Preeclampsia can affect the placenta, the kidneys, the liver, and the brain of the mother and the fetus. It requires immediate medical attention and may lead to early delivery.

Choice A, bleeding gums, is wrong because it is a common occurrence during pregnancy due to hormonal changes that increase blood flow to the gums. It is not a cause for concern unless it is excessive or accompanied by other symptoms.

Choice B, urinary frequency, is wrong because it is also a normal finding during pregnancy due to the growing uterus putting pressure on the bladder. It is not a sign of infection or kidney problems unless it is associated with pain, burning, or blood in the urine.

Choice D, faintness upon rising, is wrong because it is usually caused by orthostatic hypotension, a drop in blood pressure when changing positions.

This can happen during pregnancy due to the dilation of blood vessels and the increased blood volume. It can be prevented by rising slowly, drinking enough fluids, and avoiding prolonged standing.

Encourage collaboration between the two nurses when making the assignments. This is because collaboration is one of the most effective conflict-resolution strategies in nursing, as it involves finding a mutually beneficial solution that satisfies both parties and improves the quality of care. Collaboration can also foster trust, respect, and teamwork among nurses, which can boost morale and efficiency.

Choice B is wrong because telling the nurses that the assignments will be more equitable in the future does not address the root cause of the conflict or involve the nurses in the decision-making process.

It also implies that the charge nurse admits to being unfair, which can damage their credibility and authority.

Choice C is wrong because asking each nurse to take turns making the assignments does not resolve the conflict, but rather avoids it. Avoidance is one of the least effective conflict management strategies in nursing, as it results in not addressing the issue or finding a common ground.

Avoidance can also lead to resentment, frustration, and poor communication among nurses.

Choice D is wrong because arranging for the nurses to have as few shifts together as possible also does not resolve the conflict, but rather accommodates it. Accommodation is another ineffective conflict management strategy in nursing, as it involves giving in to one party’s demands or preferences at the expense of another’s.

Accommodation can also create a sense of inequality, injustice, and dissatisfaction among nurses.

Normal ranges for conflict-resolution strategies in nursing are not applicable, as different situations may require different approaches.

However, some general guidelines are to use collaboration when both parties have important goals or interests, compromise when both parties have some common ground or willingness to give up something, competition when one party has a clear advantage or authority, avoidance when the conflict is trivial or temporary, and accommodation when one party values harmony or relationships more than their own goals or interests.