Level: Clinical
Difficulty: Medium
Subtopic: Communicable disease reporting
NCLEX: A client is diagnosed with a reportable communicable disease. What is the nurse’s responsibility?
Community / public health nursing Health Promotion and Maintenance
Case Study
A client is diagnosed with a reportable communicable disease. What is the nurse's responsibility?
Question
A. Follow public health reporting requirements and teach transmission prevention per protocol.
B. Tell the client not to inform contacts to protect privacy.
C. Discharge the client immediately without teaching to reduce exposure.
D. Post the client's diagnosis on the unit whiteboard for staff awareness.
B. Tell the client not to inform contacts to protect privacy.
C. Discharge the client immediately without teaching to reduce exposure.
D. Post the client's diagnosis on the unit whiteboard for staff awareness.
Rationale
Correct answer: A. Follow public health reporting requirements and teach transmission prevention per protocol.
Rationale: Reportable diseases require mandated reporting and confidentiality-balanced teaching; public posting violates HIPAA.
Hint: Apply ABCs, client stability, and NCSBN clinical judgment steps before choosing an intervention.
Rationale: Reportable diseases require mandated reporting and confidentiality-balanced teaching; public posting violates HIPAA.
Hint: Apply ABCs, client stability, and NCSBN clinical judgment steps before choosing an intervention.