Final answer:
Peripheral edema is a sign of right-sided heart failure and should be included in a teaching plan for a COPD patient to self-assess for this condition.
Step-by-step explanation:
The nurse's teaching plan for a client with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) should highlight how to assess for signs and symptoms of right-sided heart failure, which is a potential complication of their condition. From the provided options, peripheral edema is a classic sign of right-sided heart failure. This occurs due to the heart's inability to pump effectively, leading to fluid accumulation in the extremities, such as the ankles and feet. Clubbing of nail beds is associated with chronic hypoxemia, hypertension is more closely associated with left-sided heart failure, and an increased appetite is not typically a symptom of heart failure.