A client with diabetes and reduced protective sensation is reviewing foot care. For each action, select the best classification.
Matrix
Choose your responses, then check the answer.
Explanation
Diabetes and peripheral neuropathy can reduce awareness of pressure, heat, cuts, and blisters. Prevention includes daily inspection, warm rather than hot water, careful drying, well-fitting shoes and socks, and regular professional foot assessment. New cuts, blisters, redness, swelling, sores, or nail and skin changes should be reported promptly. Walking barefoot and attempting to cut corns or calluses can create wounds that are not felt and should be avoided.
Correct Answer Inspect and wash the feet safely every day, report new skin changes promptly, and avoid barefoot walking or self-removal of corns and calluses.
Why It Fits Reduced protective sensation removes the warning pain that normally limits pressure, heat, and trauma. The plan therefore relies on visual inspection and prevention instead of waiting for discomfort.
Clinical Picture A small blister or callus can progress before the client feels it. Early reporting allows the health care team to assess perfusion, infection, pressure, footwear, and the need for podiatric care.
Memory Link Look every day, use warm not hot water, protect with shoes, and report changes early.
NCLEX Rule Teaching must match the sensory deficit. Do not use pain as the only trigger for action in a client with neuropathy.
Why the Alternatives Fail Bare feet increase exposure to cuts and burns. Razors and chemical corn removers can damage tissue, and soaking or very hot water can macerate or burn skin without a reliable warning sensation.
Source
1CDC Tips for Healthy Feet
2CDC Diabetes Care Schedule
32026 NCLEX-RN Test Plan
The client has no current ulcer or infection and can perform daily self-care. The nurse teaches prevention, signs that require prompt reporting, and practices that can create an unnoticed injury.
Protective sensation — The ability to feel pressure, pain, and temperature strongly enough to avoid or respond to tissue injury.
Peripheral neuropathy — Peripheral nerve damage that may cause numbness, tingling, pain, or loss of protective sensation in the feet.
Daily foot inspection — A systematic visual check of the tops, soles, heels, between the toes, skin, and nails for a new injury or change.