A nurse is caring for a client following bilateral knee replacement surgery and they require assistance with dressing. The nurse should report this information to which of the following interdisciplinary team members?

Rationale A. Respiratory therapist: Respiratory therapists focus on airway management, pulmonary function, and respiratory interventions. Assistance with dressing is not within their scope of practice and does not relate to pulmonary or ventilatory needs. Reporting dressing difficulties to them would not contribute to the client’s functional recovery. B. Physical therapist: Physical therapists focus on mobility, strength, range of motion, and gait training. While they may help with lower extremity function, they do not specialize in teaching or assisting with self-care activities like dressing, which is a focus of occupational therapy. C. Social worker: Social workers address psychosocial needs, discharge planning, and community resources. They are not directly involved in the client’s ability to perform activities of daily living such as dressing, so reporting this information to them would not address the immediate functional concern. D. Occupational therapist: Occupational therapists specialize in activities of daily living, including dressing, grooming, and self-care. They can assess the client’s functional limitations, recommend adaptive equipment, and provide strategies to enhance independence in dressing following surgery. This ensures the client receives appropriate rehabilitation support.