A nurse has accidentally punctured his finger with a needle he used to give an IM injection to a client. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?

The correct answer is: c. Positioning the client’s arm above heart level.

Choice A: Wrapping the cuff too loosely around the client’s arm

Wrapping the cuff too loosely can lead to an inaccurately high blood pressure reading, not a low one. A loose cuff does not compress the artery properly, causing the device to overestimate the pressure needed to occlude the artery.

Choice B: Measuring blood pressure right after the client’s mealtime

Measuring blood pressure right after a meal can cause a slight increase in blood pressure due to the body’s metabolic response to digestion. This is not a common cause of a low blood pressure reading.

Choice C: Positioning the client’s arm above heart level

Positioning the client’s arm above heart level can lead to an inaccurately low blood pressure reading. When the arm is elevated, the hydrostatic pressure decreases, resulting in a lower reading. This is a well-known source of error in blood pressure measurement.

Choice D: Deflating the cuff too slowly

Deflating the cuff too slowly can cause venous congestion, which may lead to an inaccurately high reading rather than a low one. The standard deflation rate is 2-3 mm Hg per second to ensure accurate measurement.

Choice A reason: Placing a client with active pulmonary TB in a room with positive airflow is not recommended, as positive airflow would push potentially contaminated air into general circulation, risking the spread of TB. Instead, a room with negative airflow is appropriate to contain and remove contaminated air.

Choice B reason: Determining whether the client lives alone or with others is important for public health and contact tracing purposes. If the client lives with others, those individuals may need to be tested and monitored for TB as well.

Choice C reason: Using an alcohol-based hand cleaner is a standard practice unless hands are visibly soiled. If hands are visibly soiled, handwashing with soap and water is necessary.

Choice D reason: Reminding the client to cover their mouth with a tissue when coughing is a key measure to prevent the spread of TB, which is transmitted through airborne particles from coughs or sneezes.

Choice E reason: Antifungal medications are not used to treat TB, which is caused by a bacterium, not a fungus. The client should be instructed about taking anti-tuberculosis medications, not antifungals.