Level: Clinical
Difficulty: Medium
Subtopic: Transmission-based precautions
NCLEX: A 71-year-old client in a long-term care facility is being evaluated for communicable respiratory infection. Asse…
Microbiology Safety and Infection Prevention and Control
Case Study
A 71-year-old client in a long-term care facility is being evaluated for communicable respiratory infection. Assessment data include productive cough for 2 weeks with night sweats and hemoptysis. Using ABCs and Maslow, which need should the nurse address first?
Question
A. Pain relief before checking airway and breathing.
B. Visitor concerns before physiologic stability.
C. Long-term teaching before treating acute physiologic risk.
D. Airway, breathing, and circulation problems before comfort or psychosocial needs.
B. Visitor concerns before physiologic stability.
C. Long-term teaching before treating acute physiologic risk.
D. Airway, breathing, and circulation problems before comfort or psychosocial needs.
Rationale
Correct answer: D. Airway, breathing, and circulation problems before comfort or psychosocial needs.
Rationale: Physiologic stability and ABCs take priority over comfort, teaching, or psychosocial needs when the client is unstable.
Hint: Apply ABCs, client stability, and NCSBN clinical judgment steps before choosing an intervention.
Rationale: Physiologic stability and ABCs take priority over comfort, teaching, or psychosocial needs when the client is unstable.
Hint: Apply ABCs, client stability, and NCSBN clinical judgment steps before choosing an intervention.