An older client with heart disease and fatigue: what should the nurse implement first to improve quality of life and functional ability?

An older client with heart disease and fatigue: what should the nurse implement first to improve quality of life and functional ability?

• A. Assess the need for assistive devices
• B. Provide education on health screenings
• C. Reinforce the importance of rehabilitation
• D. Instruct the client on techniques for self-management

Answer: (C)

The main idea is that building endurance and daily functioning in an older adult with heart disease and fatigue is best achieved by engaging in a structured cardiac rehabilitation program. Cardiac rehab combines supervised exercise training with education on lifestyle changes and symptom management, helping to increase exercise tolerance, reduce fatigue, and improve overall quality of life. By reinforcing participation in rehabilitation, you give the patient a practical path to restore physical capacity and regain independence in day-to-day activities. Other steps matter, but they don’t directly boost functional capacity as effectively. Assessing the need for assistive devices can aid independence once there’s improved stamina, and education on health screenings or self-management supports ongoing health, but they don’t address the deconditioning and limited endurance as directly as rehab does.

The main idea is that building endurance and daily functioning in an older adult with heart disease and fatigue is best achieved by engaging in a structured cardiac rehabilitation program. Cardiac rehab combines supervised exercise training with education on lifestyle changes and symptom management, helping to increase exercise tolerance, reduce fatigue, and improve overall quality of life. By reinforcing participation in rehabilitation, you give the patient a practical path to restore physical capacity and regain independence in day-to-day activities.

Other steps matter, but they don’t directly boost functional capacity as effectively. Assessing the need for assistive devices can aid independence once there’s improved stamina, and education on health screenings or self-management supports ongoing health, but they don’t address the deconditioning and limited endurance as directly as rehab does.