A nurse is caring for a client who has an abruptio placentae. Which of the following findings should the nurse expect?

A. Remove the thermometer from client's room for use on another client. Clients with C. difficile should have dedicated equipment (e.g., thermometers, stethoscopes) to prevent cross-contamination. Reusing equipment between patients increases the risk of infection transmission.
B. Wear a gown when providing care. Contact precautions are required for clients with C. difficile, including wearing a gown to protect against contamination from infectious material or surfaces.
C. Wear an N95 respirator when providing care. C. difficile is spread through the fecal-oral route, not airborne. A surgical mask is not required, and an N95 respirator is unnecessary unless another airborne condition is present.
D. Change gloves after contact with infectious material. Gloves must be changed after contact with contaminated materials to prevent spreading spores to other surfaces or clients. This is a standard part of contact precaution practices.
E. Wash hands with an alcohol-based cleaner. Alcohol-based hand sanitizers are ineffective against C. difficile spores. Handwashing with soap and water is required after caring for a client with this infection to properly remove the spores.

A. Place an ice pack over the cast. While this can help reduce swelling and pain, it is a comfort measure, not the priority. Safety assessments must be completed first before implementing non-urgent interventions.
B. Position the casted extremity on a pillow. Elevation is important to reduce swelling, but it follows after ensuring that circulation to the extremity is intact and that there are no signs of vascular compromise.
C. Teach the client to keep the cast clean and dry. Education is essential for long-term cast care, but it is not the first action after cast application. Immediate post-procedural monitoring takes precedence.
D. Palpate the pulse distal to the cast. The nurse should first assess for adequate circulation by checking distal pulses. This helps identify early signs of complications like compartment syndrome or impaired blood flow, making it the highest priority.