For a client diagnosed with myasthenia gravis, which intervention should the nurse prioritize for managing swallowing difficulties?

The prioritized intervention for managing swallowing difficulties in a client diagnosed with myasthenia gravis is to provide foods that are soft and tender. Soft and tender foods are easier to chew and swallow, reducing the risk of aspiration and making mealtimes more manageable for individuals facing muscle weakness associated with this condition.

In the context of myasthenia gravis, which leads to varying degrees of muscle fatigue and weakness, clients often struggle with the coordination of swallowing. Choosing foods that are soft minimizes the effort required for chewing and swallowing, thereby enhancing the client’s overall safety and comfort during meals.

While allowing the client to rest between bites, encouraging thicker liquids, and positioning the client upright with a slight backward tilt may all be beneficial strategies in some circumstances, these interventions are often supplementary. They do not specifically address the primary need for ease in swallowing, which is best met by offering foods that require minimal chewing and are less likely to result in choking or aspiration.