Question

The nurse is performing a routine assessment of a male client who has an artificial arm as a result of a small plane crash

many years earlier. How should the nurse best understand this client's health?
A) Despite the loss of his limb, the client may consider himself to be healthy.
B) The client may be well, but his loss of limb means that he is unhealthy.
C) The loss of his limb prevents the client from achieving wellness, though he may be healthy.
D) Because the client's injury is far in the past, it does not have a bearing on his health or wellness.

Answer 1

The nurse should view the client with an artificial arm as potentially healthy, acknowledging the holistic nature of health and wellness which goes beyond physical conditions to include mental and social well-being.

Step-by-step explanation:

When assessing the health of a male client with an artificial arm resulting from a small plane crash many years earlier, the nurse should understand that health and wellness are multifaceted concepts. Option A is most appropriate as it reflects the holistic view of health, recognizing that despite the loss of his limb, the client may consider himself to be healthy. Health includes not just the absence of disease or infirmity, but also the presence of physical, mental, and social well-being. The client’s artificial limb and the loss of his original limb do not necessarily dictate his current state of health or wellness, as adjustment and compensation mechanisms can be effective, and overall health is determined by a range of biopsychosocial factors.