The patient with Bell’s palsy may not be able to close the lid of the affected eye, which can become damaged when outdoors. Therefore, to promote safety, the nurse instructs the patient to wear a patch when outdoors. It is true that the patient could experience symptoms for up to 8 weeks, but this does not promote safety. To promote comfort, the nurse instructs the patient to apply warm, moist compresses to the face. The patient should eat soft foods, not liquids such as pureed soups as these will be difficult to swallow.