Nokea
The nurse is completing a health history with an older adult client who reveals smoking one pack of cigarettes daily for the past 50 years. Which illness prevention strategy should the nurse recommend?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: For an older adult with a 50-year, pack-a-day smoking history, the nurse prioritizes illness prevention via a smoking cessation program referral primary prevention to halt further damage from a modifiable risk tied to lung cancer, COPD, and heart disease. Quitting slashes these risks studies show even late cessation improves lung function. Screening for lung cancer is secondary, detecting issues, not preventing them, though relevant later. Nutrition or mobility exercises enhance wellness but don't address smoking's root threat 20% of smokers develop COPD. Cessation directly targets the habit, aligning with nursing's preventive ethos, offering practical support like group therapy or nicotine aids. This strategy empowers the client to alter a decades-long risk, maximizing health gains despite age, a cornerstone of tailored care.