The nurse is preparing a discharge teaching plan for a client who had a liver transplant. Which instruction is most important to include in this plan?
Explanation & Rationale
Rationale: A. Limit intake of fatty foods for one month after surgery: While dietary modifications are beneficial for overall liver health, avoiding fatty foods is not the top priority post-transplant. The client’s greatest risk in the early period is infection due to immunosuppressive therapy. B. Avoid crowds for first two months after surgery: Immunosuppressive medications increase the client’s susceptibility to infections. Avoiding crowds reduces exposure to viruses and bacteria, making this the most critical instruction for early post-transplant safety. C. Notify the healthcare provider if edema occurs: Edema may signal fluid imbalance or graft dysfunction and should be reported, but it is a secondary concern compared to preventing infection, which can rapidly become life-threatening in immunocompromised individuals. D. Increase activity and exercise gradually, as tolerated: Gradual resumption of physical activity is important for recovery, but it should be balanced with the need to prevent infection. Infection prevention remains the most urgent teaching point.