Dry skin (xerosis) can lead to itching (pruritus). What statement by the client indicates a need for further teaching about dry skin?

Choice A reason: This is the best intervention because it helps the nurse to understand the client's emotional, social, and practical needs and resources. A new diagnosis of HIV can be a devastating and overwhelming experience for the client, who may face stigma, discrimination, isolation, or rejection from others. The nurse should assess the client's support system, such as family, friends, or community groups, that can provide comfort, guidance, and assistance to the client. The nurse should also encourage the client to seek professional counseling, peer support, or other services as needed.

Choice B reason: This is not the best intervention because it may not respect the client's preferences, beliefs, or values. The nurse should not assume that the client wants or needs spiritual or religious support, unless the client expresses such a desire. The nurse should ask the client about their spiritual or religious beliefs and practices and provide appropriate referrals or resources as requested by the client. The nurse should also respect the client's right to privacy and confidentiality and not disclose the client's diagnosis to anyone without the client's consent.

Choice C reason: This is not the best intervention because it may not be the most urgent or appropriate topic to discuss with the client at this time. The nurse should not focus on the legal or ethical aspects of the client's diagnosis, but rather on the client's emotional and physical wellbeing. The nurse should explain the legal requirement to tell sex partners in a sensitive and respectful manner, but only after the client has accepted and understood their diagnosis and has expressed readiness to disclose their status to others. The nurse should also provide the client with information and resources on how to prevent the transmission of HIV and how to protect themselves and their partners.

Choice D reason: This is not the best intervention because it may not be the client's wish or choice. The nurse should not offer to tell the family for the client, unless the client asks for such help. The nurse should respect the client's autonomy and decisionmaking regarding whom to tell and when to tell about their diagnosis. The nurse should also support the client in preparing for the possible reactions and outcomes of disclosing their status to their family and others.

Choice A reason: Higherthannormal number of CD4+ Tcells and CD8+ Tcells are normal is not a laboratory value that most adults with human immunodeficiency virus will exhibit, because it does not reflect the effect of the virus on the immune system. CD4+ Tcells and CD8+ Tcells are types of white blood cells that play a key role in the immune response. CD4+ Tcells are helper cells that activate and coordinate other immune cells, while CD8+ Tcells are cytotoxic cells that kill infected or abnormal cells. Human immunodeficiency virus infects and destroys CD4+ Tcells, which impairs the immune function and increases the risk of opportunistic infections and cancers. CD8+ Tcells are not directly affected by the virus, but they may increase in number as a compensatory mechanism to fight the infection. Therefore, most adults with human immunodeficiency virus will have lowerthannormal number of CD4+ Tcells and higher than normal CD8+ Tcells.

Choice B reason: Lowerthannormal number of CD4+ Tcells and CD8+ Tcells are normal is not a laboratory value that most adults with human immunodeficiency virus will exhibit, because it does not reflect the effect of the virus on the immune system, as explained above. Lowerthannormal number of CD4+ Tcells and CD8+ Tcells are normal may indicate a condition that affects both types of Tcells, such as aplastic anemia, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or immunosuppressive drugs.

Choice C reason: Lowerthannormal number of CD4+ Tcells and higher than normal CD8+ Tcells is a laboratory value that most adults with human immunodeficiency virus will exhibit, because it reflects the effect of the virus on the immune system, as explained above. Lowerthannormal number of CD4+ Tcells and higher than normal CD8+ Tcells may indicate the progression of the infection and the severity of the immunodeficiency. The normal range of CD4+ Tcells is 500 to 1500 cells per microliter of blood, while the normal range of CD8+ Tcells is 150 to 1000 cells per microliter of blood.

Choice D reason: Higherthannormal number of CD4+ Tcells and CD8+ Tcells are low is not a laboratory value that most adults with human immunodeficiency virus will exhibit, because it does not reflect the effect of the virus on the immune system, as explained above. Higherthannormal number of CD4+ Tcells and CD8+ Tcells are low may indicate a condition that affects CD8+ Tcells, such as leukemia, lymphoma, or corticosteroid therapy.