What should the nurse aide do if a client starts to choke?

When a client begins to choke, the immediate priority is to clear the obstruction from the airway to prevent asphyxiation. Performing back blows and abdominal thrusts is the correct intervention because these techniques are designed specifically to dislodge an object stuck in the airway.

Back blows involve striking the person between the shoulder blades with the heel of the hand, while abdominal thrusts (often referred to as the Heimlich maneuver) involve placing the hands just above the person’s navel, grasping them, and quickly thrusting inward and upward. These actions create enough force to expel the object blocking the airway, allowing the client to breathe again.

The other options are inadequate responses to a choking emergency. Encouraging the patient to keep eating could worsen the situation, while calling for assistance and waiting would delay critical action that could save the patient's life. Offering water might seem like a logical solution, but it can easily lead to further choking and is not effective in clearing an obstruction.