A nurse in a community health center is assessing the results of a tuberculin skin test she performed on a client. Which of the following results indicates exposure to and a possible infection with tuberculosis (TB)?

Choice A reason:

Pneumothorax, a collapsed lung, can indeed cause shortness of breath and dyspnea. However, it is typically associated with a sudden onset of these symptoms following a chest injury or spontaneously in the case of a ruptured air blister. In the context of a femoral head fracture, pneumothorax is less likely unless there was additional trauma to the chest area.

Choice B reason:

Pneumonia is an infection of the lungs that leads to inflammation of the air sacs, causing them to fill with fluid or pus. Symptoms include cough with phlegm, fever, chills, and difficulty breathing. While pneumonia could cause dyspnea, it usually develops due to an infectious process rather than directly from a femoral head fracture.

Choice C reason:

Airway obstruction involves a blockage that prevents air from passing freely to the lungs. It can be caused by foreign objects, swelling due to allergic reactions, or other medical conditions. The symptoms of airway obstruction include difficulty breathing, wheezing, and potential changes in skin color. However, airway obstruction is not commonly a direct complication of a femoral head fracture.

Choice D reason:

Fat embolism syndrome is a serious condition that occurs when fat globules enter the bloodstream and lodge within the pulmonary vasculature, leading to respiratory distress. It is a known complication following long bone fractures, such as the femur, and presents with symptoms like shortness of breath, hypoxemia, and neurological manifestations. Given the recent femoral head fracture and the symptoms reported, fat embolism syndrome is the most likely diagnosis.

Choice A reason:
The statement "HIPAA is a federal law, not a state law" is correct. HIPAA is indeed a federal law that provides national standards to protect the privacy of personal health information.

Choice B reason:
The statement "HIPAA established regulations for individually identifiable health information in verbal, electronic, or written form" is also correct. HIPAA does regulate how individually identifiable health information should be protected and handled across various forms of communication.

Choice C reason:
The statement "Information about a client can be disclosed to family members at any time" indicates a need for further teaching. Under HIPAA, protected health information can only be disclosed to family members under certain conditions, such as when the patient has given permission or when it is directly relevant to the family member's involvement in the patient's care.

Choice D reason:
The statement "A client's address would be an example of personally identifiable information" is correct. Under HIPAA, a client's address is considered personally identifiable information, which is protected and cannot be disclosed without proper authorization.