NCLEX: A 52-year-old client on a medical-surgical unit is being evaluated for nursing care related to sterile technique….

Microbiology Safety and Infection Prevention and Control

Case Study

A 52-year-old client on a medical-surgical unit is being evaluated for nursing care related to sterile technique. Assessment data include watery diarrhea 8 times today after antibiotic therapy. Before teaching, what should the nurse assess first?

Question

A. Begin a long lecture while the client is in acute distress.
B. Assume understanding without checking literacy or readiness.
C. Immediate safety, readiness to learn, literacy, cultural needs, barriers, and baseline understanding.
D. Delegate all teaching without RN evaluation of learning needs.

Rationale

Correct answer: C. Immediate safety, readiness to learn, literacy, cultural needs, barriers, and baseline understanding.

Rationale: Teaching is effective only after safety and learning readiness are confirmed; the RN cannot delegate assessment of learning needs on unstable clients.

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

Level: Advanced

Difficulty: Hard

Subtopic: Sterile technique