The nurse completes percussion of the abdomen on an older adult client.
Which finding is considered normal for this client?

The correct answer is choice C: Ensure that the call bell is easily accessible to the client.

Choice C rationale: Ensuring that the call bell is easily accessible empowers the client to promptly request assistance if needed during the night. This promotes safety and reduces anxiety, as the client can quickly contact the nurse if they experience an urgent need to use the restroom or require any other assistance during the night.

Choice A rationale: Reassuring the client that someone will check on him hourly may provide some comfort, but it does not directly address the client's issue of urinary frequency. Ensuring easy access to the call bell is a more targeted approach to managing the client's needs.

Choice B rationale: Placing fresh water and a glass within reach on the bedside table is a good practice to maintain hydration, but it does not directly address the client's urinary frequency issue.

Choice D rationale: Offering an evening snack and oral care is essential for the client's overall well-being, but it is not directly related to managing the client's urinary frequency at night. The primary focus should be on ensuring that the client can access assistance quickly when needed.

Choice A rationale:

Observing for signs of depression is the most important intervention for the nurse to include in the client's plan of care. This patient has a history of struggling with weight management, diabetes mellitus, and hypertension, and is now approved for gastroplasty. Weight management surgery can have significant psychological implications, and patients may experience depression or other emotional issues. Identifying signs of depression and providing appropriate support and resources is crucial for the client's overall well-being and successful outcomes.

Choice B rationale:

Monitoring for urinary incontinence is not the top priority in this case. While it's important to assess and address urinary incontinence when necessary, it is not the most critical concern for a client undergoing gastroplasty. Depression and post-surgical complications related to weight management surgery take precedence.

Choice C rationale:

Providing a wide variety of meal choices is not the most important intervention at this stage. After gastroplasty, dietary choices are typically restricted, and the focus is on a controlled and healthy diet. The priority is addressing the psychological and emotional aspects of the client's care, as well as monitoring for surgical complications.

Choice D rationale:

Applying sequential compression stockings is not the most crucial intervention in this situation. While prophylaxis against deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is important, it is not the top priority compared to addressing potential depression and emotional well-being in a client who has struggled with weight management for years.