A nurse is preparing an instructional session for a client about managing episodes of constipation. Which of the following actions should the nurse take first when meeting with the client?

A. Encouraging active participation is essential for effective learning but is more appropriate after assessing the client’s current knowledge. B. Determining what the client knows about constipation is the first step in the teaching process. It allows the nurse to assess the client’s baseline understanding and tailor the education accordingly. C. Identifying shared goals is an important step in the planning phase but follows the assessment of the client’s knowledge and needs. D. Selecting the instructional method comes later, once the nurse has assessed the client’s knowledge and learning preferences.