A hospice nurse is caring for a client who has a terminal illness and reports severe pain. After the nurse administers the prescribed opioid and benzodiazepine, the client becomes somnolent and difficult to arouse. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?

a. Ask the client if she would like a sedative to help her relax:

Offering a sedative may not address the underlying reasons for the client's desire to leave. Moreover, administering a sedative without addressing the client's concerns or obtaining informed consent would not be appropriate.

b. Inform the client that she cannot leave without a discharge prescription from the provider:

While informing the client of the discharge process is important, presenting this information as a restriction may not be the most therapeutic approach. Additionally, in many healthcare settings, patients have the legal right to leave against medical advice, so presenting it as a requirement may not be accurate.

c. Have the client sign the Against Medical Advice form:

When a client decides to leave against medical advice, it is standard practice to have them sign an Against Medical Advice (AMA) form. This form documents the client's decision and acknowledges that they are leaving the hospital against the advice of the healthcare provider.

d. Assign a security officer to the client's room until the provider can speak with the client:

Assigning a security officer may be appropriate in situations where there are concerns for the safety of the client or others, such as if the client is agitated or threatening harm. However, in this scenario, the client has expressed a desire to leave, and assigning a security officer may escalate the situation unnecessarily.

a. "I will wear a surgical mask within 3ft of the client":

This statement is correct. Wearing a surgical mask within 3 feet of the client helps prevent the transmission of respiratory droplets from the client to the healthcare provider or others in close proximity.

b. "I will check that the room has a high-efficiency particulate air filtration system":

This statement is not directly related to implementing droplet precautions. While a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filtration system can help improve air quality in a healthcare setting, it is not a standard requirement for implementing droplet precautions.

c. "I will wear an N95 respirator when providing care for the client":

This statement is not accurate for implementing droplet precautions for influenza. N95 respirators are used for airborne precautions, which are indicated for diseases transmitted by smaller droplet nuclei (e.g., tuberculosis). Surgical masks are typically sufficient for preventing the transmission of respiratory droplets during care for clients with influenza.

d. "I will assign the client to a room with positive airflow":

This statement is not appropriate for implementing droplet precautions. Positive airflow rooms are typically used for clients requiring airborne precautions to prevent the spread of infectious agents in the air. In the case of influenza, droplet precautions are sufficient, and assigning the client to a room with standard airflow is appropriate.