As a community health nurse assisting the client and family with nutri

As a community health nurse assisting the client and family with nutritional needs the nurse should first:

1. Identify for the client the best foods to buy
2. Purchase foods at the lowest cost for the client
3. Ask the client and family what they think they should eat
4. Provide information on stores with the most reasonable pricing

ANSWER

ANS: 3
With the goal of helping clients assume responsibility for their own health care, the community health nurse must assess a client’s learning needs and readiness to learn within the context of the individual, the systems the individual interacts with, and the resources available for support. Asking the client about what foods he or she thinks should be eaten may help the nurse assess the client’s level of knowledge regarding nutrition as well as the client’s food preferences. It also enables the client to become a participant in his or her care. Telling the client what foods to buy does not encourage the client to assume responsibility for managing his or her health care. The nurse should first assess the resources available, and then encourage the client to do his or her own shopping. Providing information on food sources and stores with reasonable pricing may be appropriate after the nurse has determined what information the client requires to meet nutritional needs.