Which clients can be safely discharged to make more beds available after a major community disaster?

Discharging clients after a community disaster requires careful consideration of their medical condition and the potential for complications. The client diagnosed with endocarditis who is on antibiotics may represent the safest option for discharge. This is because, while endocarditis is a serious condition, patients on effective antibiotic therapy may be stable enough for discharge if they have shown improvement, are clinically stable, and can manage their treatment at home.

In contrast, clients who have had recent surgery, like the individual who is one day postoperative from a hemicolectomy, typically require close monitoring for complications such as infection, bleeding, or anastomotic leakage. Discharging them too soon could jeopardize their recovery.

The client with a history of multiple sclerosis may have varying degrees of stability, and additional factors must be considered, such as current symptoms and the potential for acute exacerbations that might require immediate medical attention.

Lastly, the client taking warfarin with a prothrombin time of twice the control indicates an elevated bleeding risk. Discharging this patient could lead to severe complications from bleeding if they experience any trauma or undergo any procedure that could exacerbate their condition.

Thus, the client with endocarditis on antibiotics is likely the most stable and appropriate choice for discharge,