NCLEX: A 6-month-old infant in the pediatric clinic is being evaluated for newly diagnosed congenital heart disease. Ass…

Pediatric nursing Health Promotion and Maintenance Physiological Adaptation

Case Study

A 6-month-old infant in the pediatric clinic is being evaluated for newly diagnosed congenital heart disease. Assessment data include pulling at ears and crying with tugging on the right ear. 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. Perform hand hygiene and apply the transmission-based precautions indicated by the client's diagnosis.
D. Skip precautions if the client has no fever.

Rationale

Correct answer: C. 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.

Level: Clinical

Difficulty: Medium

Subtopic: Congenital disorders