NCLEX: A 49-year-old client in the emergency department is being evaluated for focused reassessment during hospitalizati…

Health assessment Reduction of Risk Potential

Case Study

A 49-year-old client in the emergency department is being evaluated for focused reassessment during hospitalization. Assessment data include the client reports no sleep and increasing agitation overnight. Which infection-prevention action is essential?

Question

A. Wear gloves only and skip hand hygiene when leaving the room.
B. Use sterile technique for all routine hygiene regardless of diagnosis.
C. Perform hand hygiene and apply the transmission-based precautions indicated by the client's diagnosis.
D. Skip precautions if the client has no fever.

Rationale

Correct answer: C. Perform hand hygiene and apply the transmission-based precautions indicated by the client's diagnosis.

Rationale: Infection control matches the pathogen route: hand hygiene plus appropriate precautions for contact, droplet, or airborne transmission.

Hint: Apply ABCs, client stability, and NCSBN clinical judgment steps before choosing an intervention.

Level: Advanced

Difficulty: Hard

Subtopic: Focused reassessment