NCLEX: A 55-year-old client after abdominal surgery is being evaluated for nursing care related to documentation fundame…
Nursing fundamentalsBasic Care and ComfortSafety and Infection Prevention and Control
Case Study
A 55-year-old client after abdominal surgery is being evaluated for nursing care related to documentation fundamentals. Assessment data include the client has not voided in 8 hours and lower abdomen is firm and tender. 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. Skip precautions if the client has no fever.
D. Perform hand hygiene and apply the transmission-based precautions indicated by the client's diagnosis.
Rationale
Correct answer: D. 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.