A nurse on a medical-surgical unit is receiving reports for four clients. Which of the following clients should the nurse assess first?

Rationale:
A. Notify the client’s family member regarding their inability to obtain prescriptions: Involving family members can be helpful later, but the nurse must first understand why the client cannot obtain medications before deciding whether family assistance is necessary.

B. Call the local pharmacist on behalf of the client: Contacting the pharmacist may help resolve access issues such as refills or delivery, but this step is premature without identifying the specific barriers that prevent the client from getting medications.

C. Assess the barriers to the client’s ability to obtain prescriptions: The first action is assessment to determine the root cause of the problem. Barriers may include lack of transportation, financial hardship, limited mobility, or misunderstanding of the prescription process. Once the cause is identified, appropriate interventions or referrals can be made.

D. Initiate a referral to a social worker: A social worker can assist with financial or community resources, but the nurse should first gather assessment data to provide accurate information for an effective referral.

Rationale:
A. "I will remain with my child throughout each timeout session.": The purpose of a timeout is to remove the child from stimulation and provide an opportunity to calm down and reflect. Staying with the child during a timeout defeats this purpose, as it may reinforce attention-seeking behaviors instead of encouraging self-regulation.

B. "My child is most likely to correct behaviors when they experience natural consequences.": Allowing children to experience natural consequences helps them learn cause-and-effect relationships and develop responsibility for their actions.

C. "My child will learn rules when we offer rewards for positive behavior instead of verbal praise.": While tangible rewards can be helpful initially, consistent verbal praise is a more effective long-term strategy for reinforcing desired behaviors. It builds intrinsic motivation and encourages the child to repeat good behavior without expecting material rewards.

D. "I will be careful not to ignore it when my child misbehaves.": Ignoring minor attention-seeking behaviors can be an effective discipline strategy, as it prevents reinforcement through attention. Overreacting to small misbehaviors may inadvertently increase their frequency rather than reduce them.