The nurse caring for an elderly client in the hospital notes on assessment that the client has a scald burn on her foot

Question

On questioning the client, the nurse learns that the client scalded her foot when adding hot water from the tap to her bath while she was in the tub. The nurse should do which of the following?
1. Report the incident as suspected elder abuse.
2. Suggest that the temperature of the hot water heater be lowered.
3. Instruct the client that she should not be taking tub baths to prevent this from happening again.
4. Discuss the incident with social services so that arrangements can be made for the client to go to a nursing home on discharge from the hospital.

Answer 1

ANS: 2
Hot water from the tap should not have the potential to scald, because it is a safety hazard. The client had a plausible explanation for the incident without other signs to indicate abuse. There is no reason that the client should not be able to continue to take tub baths if the water temperature is within a safe range. The client has no other indications that she is in any danger of caring for herself; thus Answer 4 is not appropriate.