A public health nurse is comparing mortality rates in their state to overall mortality rates in the U.S. Which of the following mortality rates should the nurse use for this comparison?

Choice A Reason:
Data analysis involves examining and interpreting the collected data to identify patterns, trends, and relationships. This stage includes statistical analysis, creating comparative tables, and computing measures of association such as risk ratios or odds ratios. While crucial, this stage comes after the conceptualization and design phase.

Choice B Reason:
Conduct/implementation refers to the actual execution of the study, including data collection and ensuring that the study follows the designed protocol. This stage involves gathering data from participants, ensuring compliance with ethical standards, and managing the logistics of the study. It follows the conceptualization and design phase.

Choice C Reason:
Conceptualization/design is the initial stage of an analytic study where the research question is defined, hypotheses are generated, and the study design is developed. This stage involves planning the methodology, selecting the study population, and determining the data collection methods. The nurse's involvement in this stage indicates participation in the foundational planning and structuring of the study.

Choice D Reason:
Interpretation of findings involves analyzing the results of the data analysis to draw conclusions and make recommendations based on the study's outcomes. This stage includes discussing the implications of the findings, identifying limitations, and suggesting areas for further research. It is one of the final stages of the study process.

Choice A Reason:
Assessing the client's wound is a task that requires clinical judgment and expertise, which falls under the scope of practice of a registered nurse (RN) or licensed practical nurse (LPN). Assistive personnel (AP) are not trained or authorized to perform assessments, as these require a higher level of clinical knowledge and decision-making.

Choice B Reason:
Notifying the case manager of the client's wishes for community resources involves communication and coordination of care, which are responsibilities typically handled by an RN or LPN. This task requires understanding the client's overall care plan and the ability to communicate effectively with other healthcare professionals.

Choice C Reason:
Reviewing the client's medications is a task that involves understanding the medications, their purposes, potential side effects, and interactions. This requires clinical knowledge and judgment, which are beyond the scope of practice for AP. Medication review is typically performed by an RN or LPN.

Choice D Reason:
Assisting the client with bathing and oral care is a task that falls within the scope of practice for AP. These activities are part of the basic care tasks that AP are trained to perform. They involve helping the client with daily living activities, which do not require clinical judgment or decision-making.