Final answer:
The nurse should first obtain a thorough health history from the client as the initial step in providing contraceptive counseling. This will guide the discussion of various contraceptive methods, their effectiveness, and help in selecting the most appropriate option for the client's individual needs.
Step-by-step explanation:
To provide effective contraceptive counseling, the nurse should first obtain a thorough health history from the client. This is crucial in identifying any potential contraindications to various contraceptive methods and understanding the client's health concerns and preferences. After obtaining a health history, the nurse can discuss the efficacy and duration of various types of contraception, including barrier methods, such as condoms and diaphragms, and hormonal methods, like the birth control pill, patch, and injectables, to determine the most appropriate method for the client. An intrauterine device (IUD) is also an option, providing long-term contraception with high efficacy. The nurse must also consider behavioral methods and their lower effectiveness compared to other methods. Understanding and discussing options like sterilization, which is permanent, and emergency contraception are parts of comprehensive counseling. Compliance and the client's ability to consistently use the chosen method should also be assessed to ensure the highest possible effectiveness.A complete physical assessment of the client will follow, but it is not the first step. Additionally, the nurse should be aware of her own personal beliefs and feelings about contraception but should not let these influence the advice given to the client. Instead, the counseling should be nonjudgmental and patient-centered.