A nurse observes a client who is at 37 weeks of gestation and has preeclampsia with severe features having a seizure. Which of the following actions following the seizure should the nurse take first?

Rationale:

A. Abdomen: The abdominal skin may be loose due to age-related changes, weight fluctuations, or prior pregnancies, making it less reliable for assessing dehydration in older adults. Lifting skin here may give a false impression of skin turgor.

B. Shoulder: Skin over the shoulder can be affected by aging, sun exposure, or decreased subcutaneous tissue, which can distort the assessment of hydration status. It is not the preferred site for older adults.

C. Neck: The skin of the neck is thin and may show wrinkles or sagging unrelated to hydration. Assessing turgor here is less accurate in older clients and may overestimate skin elasticity changes due to aging.

D. Sternum: The skin over the sternum is relatively less affected by age-related changes and provides a more reliable site for assessing turgor in older adults. Lifting this area allows the nurse to evaluate hydration status more accurately without interference from natural skin laxity elsewhere.

Rationale:

A. Osteoarthritis: Osteoarthritis primarily affects joints and mobility and does not directly increase the risk of developing heart failure. While limited activity could indirectly affect cardiovascular health, it is not considered a primary risk factor.

B. Hypotension: Low blood pressure reduces cardiac workload and is generally not a risk factor for heart failure. In fact, chronic hypotension is less likely to contribute to the pathophysiology of heart failure compared with hypertension.

C. Diabetes mellitus: Diabetes contributes to heart failure risk through mechanisms such as accelerated atherosclerosis, myocardial fibrosis, and microvascular damage. Hyperglycemia and insulin resistance increase the likelihood of developing cardiac dysfunction over time.

D. Alcohol use disorder: Chronic excessive alcohol intake can lead to alcoholic cardiomyopathy, which weakens the heart muscle and increases the risk of developing heart failure. It also contributes to hypertension and arrhythmias, further elevating risk.

E. Sleep apnea: Obstructive sleep apnea causes intermittent hypoxia, sympathetic nervous system activation, and increased cardiac workload. These changes increase the risk of developing hypertension, left ventricular hypertrophy, and eventually heart failure.