Final answer:
The most important action for a nurse caring for a client with TPN is to maintain a sterile technique for dressing change at the IV site to prevent infection. While other actions like recording intake and output or monitoring for cardiac arrhythmias are important, they are secondary to ensuring sterile IV care.
Step-by-step explanation:
When caring for a client with total parenteral nutrition (TPN), the most important action on the part of the nurse is C) Sterile technique for dressing change at IV site. It is crucial to maintain a sterile environment to prevent infections, which can be a serious complication in patients receiving TPN due to their immunocompromised state. Ensuring that all aspects of the IV care, including dressing changes, are done using sterile technique is a top priority.
Other important actions include maintaining strict intake and output records and monitoring for cardiac arrhythmias, but these are secondary to the prevention of infection. Especially because TPN solutions are a good medium for bacteria to grow, if an infection occurs at the IV site, it can spread quickly to the bloodstream, leading to sepsis, a potentially life-threatening condition.
In addition to IV care, a nurse's responsibilities under direct supervision of a registered nurse also include monitoring the dialysis process and ensuring accurate and sterile procedures, which underscore the importance of sterile technique in various medical interventions.