Adult health / medical-surgical nursing · practice question
A 62-year-old client on a postoperative unit is being evaluated for heart failure exacerbation. Assessment data include blood glucose 420 mg/dL with acetone breath and Kussmaul respirations. Before teaching, what should the nurse assess first?
Multiple choiceEasynclex-rn-bsnnclex-validatednclex-2026adult-health-med-surg
Answer and explanation
Correct answer
D. Immediate safety, readiness to learn, literacy, cultural needs, barriers, and baseline understanding.
Why
Teaching is effective only after safety and learning readiness are confirmed; the RN cannot delegate assessment of learning needs on unstable clients.
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