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 fever 101.8°F (38.8°C) with elevated WBC and bandemia. Which error is most dangerous on the NCLEX and in practice?
Question
A. Teaching the client after stability is confirmed.
B. Reassessing the client after an appropriate intervention.
C. Using SBAR to notify the provider about abnormal findings.
D. Choosing an intervention before identifying assessment cues and immediate safety risk.
B. Reassessing the client after an appropriate intervention.
C. Using SBAR to notify the provider about abnormal findings.
D. Choosing an intervention before identifying assessment cues and immediate safety risk.
Rationale
Correct answer: D. Choosing an intervention before identifying assessment cues and immediate safety risk.
Rationale: The most dangerous NCLEX trap is treating before assessing, which can miss life-threatening deterioration.
Hint: Apply ABCs, client stability, and NCSBN clinical judgment steps before choosing an intervention.
Rationale: The most dangerous NCLEX trap is treating before assessing, which can miss life-threatening deterioration.
Hint: Apply ABCs, client stability, and NCSBN clinical judgment steps before choosing an intervention.