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Later in the day, the nurse joins Blanca and Maria in their room to discuss possible outcomes of Maria's disorder. Blanca asks the nurse, "Will Maria ever look normal?" to prepare the client for surgical repair of Maria's cleft lip, which outcome explanation by the nurse is the most important?

A. "Surgical repair will make her look completely normal."
B. "The surgery will improve Maria's appearance significantly."
C. "Maria may have some visible differences, but she will be beautiful."
D. "It's important to focus on Maria's overall health rather than appearance."

1 Answer

3 votes

Final answer:

The most accurate explanation for the outcome of Maria's cleft lip surgery is that it will significantly improve her appearance, but may not make her look completely 'normal'. Setting realistic expectations about the surgery's impact on both health and appearance is crucial.

Step-by-step explanation:

To prepare the client for surgical repair of Maria's cleft lip, the most appropriate outcome explanation by the nurse would be option B: "The surgery will improve Maria's appearance significantly." This statement is realistic because while surgery aims to repair the structural issue and often enhances aesthetics, it's not always possible to achieve what is perceived as completely 'normal' appearance. Moreover, it's of utmost importance to set realistic expectations for Blanca and Maria about the potential outcomes. A cleft palate is a developmental defect affecting the hard palate, leading to a gap that allows communication between the nasal and oral cavities, which can have significant implications for an infant's ability to nurse and for their nutrition. Surgical repair is often required to correct these defects and can improve function and appearance. However, this medical intervention does not always result in a perfect outcome, particularly in cases of more severe clefts or when multiple surgeries are needed. Therefore, the nurse's communication should empathize on overall health and the practical benefits of surgery rather than just appearance.

User Senthil Kumaran
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