Final answer:
The nurse concludes that further teaching on skin care is necessary, as ice pack usage might not be advisable for irradiated skin. Erythema is a common side effect, but proper care is essential to avoid exacerbating the condition.
Step-by-step explanation:
The erythema (redness) observed over the area that has been receiving radiation therapy indicates a mild skin reaction, which is a common side effect of this treatment modality. The patient is already practising good skin care by using tepid water and a soft washcloth, but the application of an ice pack three times a day may not be advisable as extreme temperatures can be harmful to irradiated skin. The best response would be A. Further teaching on skin care is necessary.
While erythema is an expected side effect and the area is sensitive but not painful, it is important to provide health teaching to ensure proper skin care techniques specific to radiation treatment are being followed. This includes avoiding extremes of temperature such as ice or heat applications, using prescribed, non-irritating lotions or creams if recommended, avoiding sun exposure, and not using any irritating agents on the skin.
If the skin condition were to worsen, or if the patient experienced additional side effects such as severe pain, blistering, or infection, then options B (no other intervention needed) or C (the radiation team should be notified of this problem) might be considered. At this stage, there is no indication the radiation team needs to be notified, and health teaching has been given regarding radiation side effects, but further education on specific skin care during treatment is warranted.