A client with newly diagnosed diabetes mellitus is receiving teaching on foot care. Which instruction should the nurse include?

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: Correct Answer: C - Trim your toenails straight across to prevent ingrown toenails. Rationale: 1. Trimming toenails straight across helps prevent ingrown nails. 2. Ingrown nails can lead to infection, especially risky for diabetics due to poor wound healing. 3. Walking barefoot toughens feet, increasing risk of injury. 4. Soaking in hot water can cause burns or skin damage. 5. Using a heating pad can lead to burns or decreased sensation in feet, increasing injury risk. Summary: Option C is correct as it directly addresses a common issue in diabetic foot care - ingrown toenails. Options A, B, and D pose risks of injury or damage to the feet, which is detrimental for diabetic individuals.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C: Improved hemoglobin levels. Epoetin alfa is a medication used to treat anemia in patients with chronic renal failure by stimulating red blood cell production. Improved hemoglobin levels indicate that the medication is effective in addressing the anemia associated with renal failure. Increased urine output (A) is not a direct outcome of epoetin alfa therapy. Decreased blood pressure (B) and stable potassium levels (D) are not specific indicators of the medication's effectiveness in treating anemia.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: Decreased pedal edema. Digoxin is a medication commonly used to treat heart failure by improving the heart's ability to pump effectively. As the medication helps to reduce fluid buildup in the body, a decrease in pedal edema (swelling in the feet and ankles) indicates that digoxin is effectively managing the client's heart failure. Increased heart rate (A) may indicate digoxin toxicity, elevated blood pressure (C) is not a typical indicator of digoxin effectiveness, and improved urine output (D) may be a result of diuretic therapy rather than specifically digoxin efficacy in heart failure management.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: Dry cough. Lisinopril, an ACE inhibitor, commonly causes a dry cough due to the accumulation of bradykinin. This side effect can be bothersome and non-productive. Other choices are incorrect because weight gain is not a common side effect of lisinopril but rather a side effect of some other antihypertensive medications. Tachycardia is not associated with lisinopril; in fact, it can cause bradycardia in some cases. Hyperglycemia is not a common side effect of lisinopril and is more commonly associated with other classes of antihypertensive medications.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: Lowered cholesterol levels. Atorvastatin is a statin medication used to lower cholesterol levels, reducing the risk of further cardiovascular events in patients with a history of MI. Lowering cholesterol helps prevent plaque buildup in arteries, reducing the likelihood of another MI. Increased blood pressure (A) and decreased heart rate (C) are not direct indicators of atorvastatin's effectiveness. Improved liver function (D) may be a consideration due to potential side effects, but the primary goal of atorvastatin is to lower cholesterol levels to prevent cardiovascular events.