A nurse at a long-term care facility is caring for a client who is alert.

Which of the following actions should the nurse take to protect the client's privacy?

A. Keep the conversation moving by asking about the client's family: While engaging the client in conversation is important, this statement does not specifically address the client's difficulty in talking about their illness.
B. Let the client know that as their nurse, they are available and willing to listen: Correct. This response demonstrates the nurse's willingness to provide emotional support and active listening. Encouraging the client to express their feelings and concerns about their illness is essential in promoting therapeutic communication.
C. Ask if the client understands what to expect in the advanced stages of the illness: While discussing the client's understanding of their illness is essential, it does not directly address their difficulty in talking to others about it.
D. Ask the client's visitors not to say anything about the advanced disease: This response may hinder communication and restrict the client's opportunity to talk about their feelings and concerns with supportive visitors.

A. Restrict the client's visitors to the immediate family: While tuberculosis is a communicable disease, restricting visitors to the immediate family is not a standard precautionary measure. Visitors should be educated about infection control measures and individuals with active tuberculosis
may need to wear masks in certain situations.
B. Assign the client to a negative pressure airflow room: Correct. Clients with active tuberculosis should be placed in a negative pressure airflow room to prevent the spread of infectious airborne particles to other areas of the facility. Negative pressure ensures that air from the room does not flow to other parts of the facility.
C. Discard personal protective equipment outside the client's room: Personal protective equipment (PPE) should be removed and discarded according to facility policy, which often includes removing PPE inside the client's room and properly disposing of it afterward. The nurse should follow standard precautions for infection control.
D. Have the client wear a HEPA mask during transportation throughout the facility: While wearing a HEPA mask may be necessary for clients with tuberculosis, it is not related to the initial admission process. Clients with active tuberculosis may be asked to wear a HEPA mask during transportation when they need to leave their negative pressure room.