The nurse is caring for an older adult client who has an infection and a fever of 38°C (100.4°F).

The nurse should monitor the client for which of the following complications?

The correct answer isA, B, and C.

These interventions are appropriate for a client who has impaired tactile sensation due to aging.

• Ais correct because monitoring the client’s skin for signs of injury or infection can help prevent complications such as pressure ulcers, burns, or infections that might go unnoticed by the client due to reduced sensitivity.

• Bis correct because teaching the client to avoid exposure to extreme temperatures can protect the client from thermal injuries such as frostbite or heatstroke that might not be felt by the client due to diminished thermoreception.

• Cis correct because encouraging the client to use assistive devices for mobility and balance can enhance the client’s safety and independence by compensating for the loss of proprioception and kinesthesia that might impair the client’s coordination and stability.

• Dis wrong because providing the client with sensory stimulation such as massage or music is not directly related to impaired tactile sensation due to aging.While sensory stimulation might have other benefits for the client’s well-being, it does not address the specific problem of reduced touch perception.

• Eis wrong because advising the client to wear loose-fitting clothing and shoes is not helpful for a client who has impaired tactile sensation due to aging.In fact, loose-fitting clothing and shoes might increase the risk of falls or injuries by creating friction or slipping off the client’s body.

Normal ranges for tactile sensation vary depending on the type of stimulus, the location of the skin, and the method of testing.

However, some general guidelines are:.

• Vibration sense: normal threshold is less than 10 μm at 30 Hz on the fingertip.

• Temperature sense: normal threshold is less than 1°C difference between two stimuli on the forearm.

• Pressure sense: normal threshold is less than 10 g/mm2 on the fingertip.

• Pain sense: normal threshold is less than 0.5 g/mm2 on the fingertip.

The correct answer is A, B, and D.These are some of the strategies to prevent orthostatic hypotension, which is a sudden drop in blood pressure caused by a change in posture, such as when a person stands up quickly.

Some explanations for the other choices are:.

• Choice C is wrong because drinking caffeinated beverages can cause dehydration, which can worsen orthostatic hypotension by reducing the fluid volume in the blood vessels.

• Choice E is wrong because increasing salt intake can raise blood pressure, but it can also cause fluid retention, which can strain the heart and kidneys.People with hypertension, heart failure, or kidney disease should limit their salt intake.

Some normal ranges for blood pressure are:.

• Systolic blood pressure (the top number) should be less than 120 mmHg for most adults.

• Diastolic blood pressure (the bottom number) should be less than 80 mmHg for most adults.

• Orthostatic hypotension is diagnosed when there is a drop of 20 mmHg or more in systolic blood pressure or 10 mmHg or more in diastolic blood pressure within 2 to 5 minutes of standing.