While performing hygiene care for a client, a nurse notices a frayed electrical cord on the client’s electronic blood pressure monitor.
Which of the following actions should the nurse take first?

The correct answer is choice A. Evaluate the client’s concerns and communicate them to the provider.

This is because the nurse’s role as a patient advocate is to speak, act or behave in a way that benefits their patient, who may not be able to support or promote their own needs or interests.

The nurse should provide patients with information regarding their diagnoses, prognoses, treatments, and alternatives, and serve as a patient’s voice when necessary.

Choice B is wrong because contacting the unit’s social worker to report the client’s refusal is not an appropriate action for the nurse to take as a patient advocate.

The nurse should respect the patient’s autonomy and right to refuse treatment, and not involve other professionals without the patient’s consent.

Choice C is wrong because asking the client’s partner to find out why the client has refused the procedure is not an appropriate action for the nurse to take as a patient advocate.

The nurse should communicate directly with the patient and not rely on third parties to obtain information or influence the patient’s decision.

Choice D is wrong because explaining the necessity of the procedure to the client is not an appropriate action for the nurse to take as a patient advocate.

The nurse should not impose their own values or opinions on the patient, but rather provide unbiased and factual information and support the patient’s informed choice.

This is because the nurse should first assess the client’s baseline knowledge and readiness to learn before providing any teaching.

The nurse should also tailor the teaching to the client’s individual needs and preferences.

Choice B is wrong because showing the client a video demonstration of peak flow meter use may not be the most effective way of teaching if the client has different learning styles or needs.

The nurse should also involve the client in the learning process and not just rely on passive methods.

Choice C is wrong because observing the client using the peak flow meter is an evaluation step that should be done after teaching and reinforcing the correct technique.

The nurse should not assume that the client knows how to use the peak flow meter without assessing their knowledge first.

Choice D is wrong because emphasizing the importance of the daily use of the peak flow meter is a motivational strategy that should be done after assessing the client’s knowledge and providing teaching.

The nurse should also explain the rationale and benefits of using the peak flow meter, not just tell the client to do it.

A peak flow meter is a small device that measures how fast a person can forcefully blow air out of their lungs in one fast breath.

It is one indicator of airways changes that may occur in people with asthma or COPD.

To get a peak flow meter, speak to a doctor.