Final answer:
The sign that indicates effective medical treatment for a client with CHF is the ability to perform ADLs without dyspnea. This improvement suggests better cardiac function and reduced symptoms of pulmonary oedema and fluid accumulation.
Step-by-step explanation:
The assessment of a client with Congestive Heart Failure (CHF) involves monitoring for signs and symptoms that indicate whether medical treatment is effective. The correct answer to the question provided is c. The client can perform ADLs without dyspnea. This indicates that the heart's function has improved sufficiently to allow the client to engage in Activities of Daily Living without experiencing shortness of breath, which is a key symptom of CHF. In contrast, increasing peripheral pitting oedema, accuracy in taking a pulse, or the presence of minimal jugular vein distention is either irrelevant to the effectiveness of the treatment or suggest a worsening condition.
Pulmonary edema and systemic fluid accumulation such as peripheral pitting edema are common complications of CHF due to increased hydrostatic pressure inside the pulmonary capillaries forcing fluid into the lung tissues and systemic veins. Successful treatment of CHF would lead to a reduction in such symptoms, thereby improving the patient's ability to carry out daily activities.
The ability to perform ADLs without dyspnea is a significant indicator of improvement, suggesting that the cardiac output and the efficiency of the skeletal muscle pump are sufficient to prevent unpleasant symptoms during basic movements and activities.