Final answer:
The nurse should first examine the client's feet for signs of injury when observing decreased tactile sensation in both feet in a client with a 15-year history of diabetes. The nurse should then document the finding in the client's chart. Notifying the healthcare provider and testing sensory perception in the client's hands are not the first actions to take in this scenario.
Step-by-step explanation:
The nurse should examine the client's feet for signs of injury first when observing decreased tactile sensation in both feet. Diabetic neuropathy is a common complication of diabetes that can cause numbness and decreased sensation in the extremities. In this case, it is important to assess for any signs of injury to the feet, such as cuts, sores, or infections, because the client may not be aware of these due to the decreased sensation.
Once the examination of the client's feet is completed, the nurse should then document the finding in the client's chart. This ensures that the information is recorded for future reference and allows the healthcare team to track any changes in the client's condition over time.
Notifying the healthcare provider may be necessary if there are any signs of infection or if the client is experiencing any other concerning symptoms, but it is not the first action to take in this scenario. Testing sensory perception in the client's hands is also not the priority at this time, as the focus is on the decreased sensation in the client's feet.