Question

A homeless client arrives in the emergency room. The client verbalizes an inability to bathe for at least one month. What is the nurse's priority?

a) Providing the client with clean clothes
b) Arranging for a shower or bath
c) Assessing the client's skin integrity
d) Conducting a complete physical assessment

Answer 1

The nurse's priority is to assess the client's skin integrity.

Step-by-step explanation:

The nurse's priority in this situation would be assessing the client's skin integrity.

Homeless individuals often face challenges in maintaining personal hygiene, which can lead to various health issues. By assessing the client's skin integrity, the nurse can identify any potential problems such as infections, wounds, or skin breakdown.

While providing the client with clean clothes and arranging for a shower or bath are important, they are secondary priorities to assessing the client's immediate health condition.