Public Health Nursing Practice Exam

When a community health nurse assesses a client with congestive heart failure, which step should the case manager take after hospitalization?

1. Ensure family members are available for care

2. Assess the client's insurance coverage for needed services

3. Provide emotional support to the client

4. Document the client's hospital stay

The correct answer is: Assess the client's insurance coverage for needed services

Assessing the client's insurance coverage for needed services is essential after hospitalization for several reasons. When a patient is discharged, it is critical to understand what services will be financially accessible to them. This evaluation helps determine which follow-up care options—such as home health services, rehabilitation, or medications—can be facilitated based on the patient's insurance plan. Understanding the insurance coverage allows the case manager to create a tailored care plan that aligns with the client's health needs while considering the financial realities they face. It ensures that the transition from hospital to home is as smooth as possible, minimizes the risk of rehospitalization due to inadequate follow-up care, and promotes adherence to necessary treatment regimens that may otherwise be unattainable due to cost. While ensuring family members are available for care, providing emotional support, and documenting the hospital stay are all important aspects of post-hospitalization care, they do not directly address the financial barriers that might impede the client’s access to necessary services. Without appropriate insurance coverage, the other interventions may not be effective in supporting the overall health and recovery of the client. Therefore, the priority after hospitalization should be to assess insurance coverage to facilitate effective care planning.