NCLEX: A 16-year-old adolescent on an adolescent psychiatric unit is being evaluated for acute emotional crisis. Assessm…

Psychiatric / mental health nursing Psychosocial Integrity

Case Study

A 16-year-old adolescent on an adolescent psychiatric unit is being evaluated for acute emotional crisis. Assessment data include the client has not slept in 3 days and speech is rapid and pressured. Which infection-prevention action is essential?

Question

A. Wear gloves only and skip hand hygiene when leaving the room.
B. Perform hand hygiene and apply the transmission-based precautions indicated by the client's diagnosis.
C. Use sterile technique for all routine hygiene regardless of diagnosis.
D. Skip precautions if the client has no fever.

Rationale

Correct answer: B. 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: Advanced

Difficulty: Hard

Subtopic: Crisis intervention