Which of the following actions should the home health nurse take to ge

Which of the following actions should the home health nurse take to get in touch with a client if the client apparently has no telephone?

a. Determine whether the client has family members in the area who might be able to get in touch with the client to ask the client to call the agency
b. Go to the client’s address and discuss making a home visit with the client
c. Send a formal letter asking the client to call the agency for an appointment
d. Tell the referral source you cannot accept referrals without usable telephone numbers, so this client was not visited

ESSAYBID ANSWER

ANS: B
Not all clients have a telephone. If that is the case, the nurse should check the referral for a telephone number where messages can be left. It is also worthwhile to contact the health care provider who made the referral to see whether the telephone number was omitted unintentionally. If the client does not have a telephone, the nurse may choose to make a drop-in visit. This type of visit consists of an unannounced visit to the client’s home, during which the nurse explains the purpose of the referral, receives the client’s permission for the visit, and appoints a time for a future visit with the client. The client may agree to the first visit while the nurse is there. It may be very difficult to determine if the client has family members in the area to relay information to the client. Sending a formal letter would not get to the client who needs services in a timely manner.