Question

The nurse prioritizes care for a client with diabetes mellitus using��� Maslow's hierarchy of needs. Which need is identified as the priority for this��� client?

A. The nurse teaches the client how to properly change dressings on the��� right-leg amputation site.
B. The client joins the local American Diabetes Association support group.
C. The client attends classes to deal with body image after amputation of the right leg.
D. The nurse teaches the client proper home safety techniques to prevent diabetic wounds.

Answer 1

The nurse prioritizes care based on Maslow's hierarchy of needs by focusing on the most crucial physiological needs first, and thus the priority is teaching the client proper home safety techniques to prevent diabetic wounds.

Step-by-step explanation:

When prioritizing care for a client with diabetes mellitus using Maslow's hierarchy of needs, the nurse should focus on the most basic and crucial requirements for survival, which are physiological needs. Within Maslow's framework, physiological necessities like maintaining blood sugar levels and preventing medical complications due to wounds take precedence over psychological and self-fulfillment needs. Therefore, among the provided options, the top priority is to ensure the client's physical health is not compromised by potential hazards associated with diabetes.

In this context, the priority need for a diabetic patient is wound care and infection prevention. The nurse's teaching about home safety to prevent diabetic wounds directly addresses the imminent risk of injury and infection that diabetes patients face due to neuropathy and poor wound healing capacity. Consequently, the correct option is:

D. The nurse teaches the client proper home safety techniques to prevent diabetic wounds.

This answer aligns with the bottom layer of Maslow's hierarchy, which places physiological needs as the foundation for a person's well-being, making it the essential starting point for patient care.