Question

Difficulty: HardHealth Promotion and Disease Prevention

While working at a multi-specialty wellness clinic, a practical nurse reviews the charts of several clients to ensure appropriate preventative care is delivered. Which of the following actions align with evidence-based health promotion and disease prevention guidelines? Select all that apply.

  1. Reminding a 50-year-old client about the importance of scheduling a routine colorectal cancer screening if they have not had one previously.Answer
  2. B
    Preparing to administer the live-attenuated measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine to a client who is currently 14 weeks pregnant.
  3. Encouraging a 65-year-old client to engage in regular weight-bearing exercises and ensure adequate dietary calcium intake to maintain bone density.Answer
  4. D
    Educating a caregiver that an 82-year-old client's sudden development of severe confusion over the past 24 hours is an expected, age-related cognitive decline.
  5. Documenting that a 6-month-old infant is meeting developmental targets by successfully sitting with light support and transferring a toy from one hand to the other.Answer
  6. F
    Informing the parents of a 4-month-old infant that the child is developmentally delayed because they are unable to sit entirely unsupported without falling.

Answer

The correct actions demonstrating appropriate health promotion and disease prevention are reminding a 50-year-old about colorectal screening, encouraging a 65-year-old to perform weight-bearing exercises, and properly identifying 6-month-old developmental milestones (sitting with support, transferring objects).
The correct actions align with established preventative guidelines: initiating colorectal cancer screening by age 45-50 constitutes proper secondary prevention, advocating for weight-bearing exercises and calcium intake prevents osteoporosis in older adults as primary prevention, and recognizing that sitting with support and transferring objects are normal developmental achievements for a 6-month-old infant.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Evaluate the colorectal screening recommendation for the 50-year-old client.
Routine colorectal cancer screening is appropriately indicated for average-risk clients beginning at age 45 to 50.
Secondary prevention relies on early detection of disease to improve outcomes.
2
Analyze the planned MMR vaccine administration for the pregnant client.
Administration of this vaccine is strongly contraindicated.
Live vaccines pose a teratogenic risk to the developing fetus and must not be given during pregnancy.
3
Assess the osteoporosis prevention education provided to the 65-year-old client.
Weight-bearing exercises and dietary calcium are appropriate and essential interventions.
Mechanical stress on bones from weight-bearing activities promotes osteoblast function, which helps prevent age-related bone loss.
4
Evaluate the nurse's response to the sudden confusion in the 82-year-old client.
Sudden confusion is an abnormal, acute finding requiring prompt medical evaluation.
Acute changes in mental status over hours or days indicate delirium, which is often secondary to an infection or physiological stressor, distinguishing it from the gradual decline of dementia.
5
Review the developmental milestones applied to the 6-month-old and 4-month-old infants.
Sitting with support is normal at 6 months, while sitting entirely unsupported is expected later (6-8 months), making the 4-month-old's inability completely normal.
Accurate knowledge of developmental milestones is critical to properly reassure parents and prevent false alarms regarding developmental delays.

Key Concept

Health promotion across the lifespan requires applying evidence-based screening guidelines, correctly identifying normal versus abnormal aging processes, recognizing age-appropriate developmental milestones, and strictly adhering to immunization safety protocols.
Estimated Time:1m 30s
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