A nurse is reinforcing teaching with a client who has an open leg wound and is experiencing difficulty healing. The nurse should encourage the client to increase which of the following nutrients in his diet?

A. Calcium Calcium is primarily responsible for bone health, nerve transmission, and muscle contraction. While it plays a minor role in the blood-clotting phase of wound healing, it is not a primary nutrient targeted to speed up the healing of an open soft-tissue leg wound. B. Vitamin D Vitamin D works in tandem with calcium for bone mineralization and supports immune function. While important for overall health, it is not as directly involved in the cellular repair of a dermal wound as protein, Vitamin C, or Zinc are. C. Protein Protein is the most critical nutrient for wound healing. It is essential for collagen synthesis, tissue repair, and the formation of new blood vessels (angiogenesis). When a client has an open wound, the body enters a hypermetabolic state that requires significant amounts of amino acids to rebuild the skin and underlying tissues. D. Fats While fats provide a concentrated source of energy and are necessary for cell membrane integrity, they are generally not the nutrient of focus when a client is struggling with wound healing. The body typically has enough stored adipose tissue to meet the energy demands of healing unless the client is severely malnourished.