The nurse is reviewing the recommended preventative care for clients with asthma, chronic bronchitis, and emphysema. Which health care measure is most important for the nurse to recommend to these clients?

Choice A reason: Depression involves social withdrawal, driven by low serotonin or dopamine. Encouraging the client to leave the room and engage socially stimulates oxytocin release and cognitive behavioral benefits, counteracting isolation. This therapeutic approach enhances mood and aligns with depression management goals, making it the most effective response.

Choice B reason: Calling TV a passive activity is partially true but less therapeutic, as it doesn’t directly promote social engagement. Depression treatment prioritizes interpersonal interaction to boost neurotransmitters like serotonin. This response misses the opportunity to encourage social therapy, critical for alleviating depressive symptoms in a mental health setting.

Choice C reason: Suggesting TV sends messages is inappropriate without psychotic symptoms, not indicated in this client’s depression. Depression involves low mood, not delusions. This could confuse or stigmatize, failing to promote social engagement, which is essential for improving mood via neurochemical and behavioral pathways in depression management.

Choice D reason: Allowing unlimited TV outside the room does not address depression’s social isolation. Excessive TV may reinforce withdrawal, reducing therapeutic group activities that enhance serotonin. This lacks focus on active engagement, critical for recovery, making it less effective than encouraging social interaction to improve mental health outcomes.

Choice A reason: Ensuring oxygen and medications manages exacerbations in asthma, bronchitis, and emphysema, where airway inflammation obstructs breathing. These treat symptoms, not prevent infections. Vaccines reduce influenza and pneumococcus, major exacerbation triggers, providing specific immunity to prevent severe respiratory infections, making them a higher priority.

Choice B reason: Using tissues and handwashing reduces infection spread but is less effective than vaccines for preventing exacerbations in chronic lung diseases. Influenza and pneumococcus trigger severe bronchoconstriction or inflammation. Vaccines offer targeted protection against these pathogens, prioritizing prevention over general hygiene in high-risk clients.

Choice C reason: Avoiding crowded areas in colder months reduces viral exposure, which can exacerbate asthma or COPD via inflammation. Vaccines are more effective, providing specific immunity against influenza and pneumococcus, the most common triggers of severe exacerbations, making this less critical than vaccination for preventing respiratory complications.

Choice D reason: Annual flu and PPSV23 vaccines are critical for asthma, bronchitis, and emphysema, as these conditions increase severe infection risk. Influenza and pneumococcus trigger exacerbations via airway inflammation, risking hospitalization. Vaccines stimulate antibody production, reducing infection severity, making them the top preventive measure for chronic lung disease management.