Final answer:
The nurse will instruct the client with a hordeolum to apply a warm compress for 15 minutes, four times daily, as the primary treatment to reduce swelling and promote drainage.
Step-by-step explanation:
A nurse instructing a client with a diagnosis of hordeolum, commonly known as a stye, would emphasize the importance of applying a warm compress for 15 minutes four times daily to help the stye resolve. This is often the first line of treatment recommended to reduce swelling and promote drainage of the abscess. Antibiotic therapy may be indicated if the infection is not resolved with the warm compresses or if it spreads, but this would typically follow an assessment by a healthcare provider. Avoiding eye contact is not necessary, but it is important to maintain good hand hygiene to prevent spreading the infection. A cold compress may provide some relief from symptoms, but it is not the primary treatment for a hordeolum.