The nurse in the medical-surgical unit is assigning client care to a nurse who is floating from PACU. The nurse should recognize that the float nurse is most qualified to care for which of the following clients?

Choice A reason: A client who is postoperative following a lobectomy and has a chest tube is the most appropriate assignment for a PACU nurse. PACU nurses are highly skilled in caring for immediate postoperative patients, monitoring for complications such as respiratory distress, bleeding, and chest tube management. Their expertise in airway management, pain control, and hemodynamic monitoring makes them well-suited for this client. Choice B reason: Teaching prior to initiating cardiac rehabilitation requires specialized knowledge in patient education and long-term management of cardiovascular disease. This is best handled by a nurse with experience in cardiac rehabilitation or medical-surgical nursing, not a PACU nurse whose focus is on acute postoperative recovery. Choice C reason: Discharge planning to a long-term care facility involves coordination of care, patient education, and interdisciplinary communication. These tasks require familiarity with community resources and continuity of care, which are not the primary skills of a PACU nurse. Choice D reason: Teaching insulin self-administration requires patient education skills and knowledge of diabetes management. This is not within the typical scope of PACU nursing, as PACU nurses focus on immediate postoperative stabilization rather than chronic disease education.