The caregiver of a toddler is concerned about the frequency of ear infections and states, "The pediatrician said my child's ear tubes are small and short. What can I do about this?" Which action should the nurse take?

A. Engage the client in non-threatening conversations: Establishing a therapeutic nurse–client relationship through simple, supportive communication helps reduce isolation, builds trust, and may encourage the client to begin expressing thoughts and feelings.

B. Encourage the client's family to visit more often: Family involvement can be beneficial, but it may not be effective if the client is withdrawn. Increasing visits without first fostering a supportive environment could overwhelm or further isolate the client.

C. Encourage the client to participate in group activities: Group activities promote social interaction but may feel intimidating or threatening for someone who has been withdrawn for weeks. Gradual re-engagement beginning with one-on-one communication is more appropriate.

D. Schedule a daily conference with the social worker: Involving the social worker can be helpful for comprehensive care planning, but this does not directly address the immediate nursing priority of engaging the client therapeutically and reducing withdrawal.

A. Excessive aerobic exercise: Moderate aerobic exercise is generally protective for cardiovascular health. The client’s symptoms occurred during normal activity, and there is no indication that his exercise is excessive or harmful, so this is less of a concern.

B. Vegetarian diet: A vegetarian diet is usually associated with lower cardiovascular risk due to reduced saturated fat intake and higher consumption of fiber and antioxidants. This is unlikely to be a contributing risk factor in this client.

C. Family health history: Both parents had heart disease, and the father had diabetes, placing the client at increased genetic risk for cardiovascular disease. Exploring family history further helps identify inherited risk factors and guides preventive strategies.

D. History of hypertension: Although the client’s current blood pressure is controlled with atenolol, hypertension is a known cardiovascular risk factor. Assessing the duration and management of prior hypertension is important to evaluate cumulative risk.

E. Sexual history: While sexual history may be relevant in some cardiovascular assessments (e.g., erectile dysfunction as a marker), it is not a primary risk factor for heart disease in this context and does not require immediate exploration.