A nurse on a medical unit is planning care for a group of clients. Which of the following clients should the nurse attend to first?

Choice A reason:

Recommending staying at a local shelter might not be appropriate unless the client's health is in immediate danger due to the low temperature. It's better to explore other options first.

Choice B reason:

Contacting the client's family members about their financial status might not be necessary or respectful of the client's privacy without their consent.

Choice C reason:

Contact the local Department of Health and Human Services for the client. Contacting the local Department of Health and Human Services can help ensure that appropriate resources and assistance are provided to the client. They may have programs or services available to assist individuals who are struggling to afford heating during the winter. This action addresses the immediate concern of the client's health and the living environment.

Choice D reason:

Providing information about the dangers of hypothermia is important, but the client's current situation of living in a cold environment should be addressed first. The nurse can provide this information along with appropriate resources to help the client.

B. Open the first flap of the sterile package toward the nurse's body: When opening a sterile package, the nurse should open the first flap away from their body to prevent potential contamination from falling particles. This action helps maintain the sterility of the contents inside.

D. Place a surgical pack with a sterile drape on the work surface: Placing the surgical pack with a sterile drape on the work surface ensures that the sterile field is properly established. The sterile drape provides a clean and sterile area for the nurse to perform the dressing change.

Incorrect answers:

A. Select a work surface at the nurse's waist level: While it is important to select a work surface at an appropriate height for the nurse's comfort and ergonomics, the height of the work surface does not directly affect the maintenance of a sterile field.

C. Grasp 2.5 cm (1 in) of the outer edge to open the surgical wrap: When opening a sterile package, the nurse should grasp the inner edge of the sterile wrap to maintain the sterility of the contents. Grasping the outer edge can potentially lead to contamination of the sterile field.

E. Apply sterile gloves before opening the pack: Sterile gloves should be applied after the sterile field is established. Opening the sterile pack and setting up the sterile field should be done with clean (non-sterile) hands to avoid contaminating the contents. Once the sterile field is set up, the nurse can don sterile gloves before actually touching the sterile items.