A nurse is caring for a client who has recently undergone a total bilateral mastectomy.

Which of the following statements by the client requires immediate action by the nurse?

The correct answer is Choice B.

Choice A rationale: Placing the client in a room with another client who has pharyngitis is not recommended. Pharyngitis can be caused by various different pathogens, not just streptococci. Co-housing clients with different infections can lead to cross-infection, complicating both clients’ conditions. Therefore, this choice is not the best option.

Choice B rationale: Ensuring that the client wears a surgical mask during transportation throughout the facility is the correct choice. Streptococcal infections are spread through respiratory droplets. A surgical mask can help prevent the spread of these droplets, protecting other clients and healthcare workers in the facility. This is a standard precaution in infection control.

Choice C rationale: Limiting the client’s visitors to visitations of 30 minutes is not necessarily beneficial. The duration of the visit does not significantly impact the risk of transmission as much as the precautions taken during the visit, such as hand hygiene and wearing a mask. Therefore, while limiting visitation time might reduce exposure, it is not the most effective measure to prevent the spread of infection.

Choice D rationale: Providing the client a room with negative pressure airflow of six air exchanges per hour is not necessary for a client with a streptococcal infection. Negative pressure rooms are typically used for clients with airborne diseases, such as tuberculosis. A streptococcal infection is spread through droplets, not airborne transmission, so a negative pressure room would not provide any additional benefit.

A. Show the assistive personnel where to apply the medication: This action is not appropriate because only licensed healthcare providers, such as nurses, are allowed to administer
medications.
B. Ask the client when the previous nurse last applied the medication: While communication with the client is important, it is not a reliable method to verify medication administration accuracy.
C. Identify the client by comparing the medication administration record with the client's room number: This action is insufficient to verify the correct client because there could be multiple clients with the same medication due.
D. Compare the label of the medication container with the medication administration record three times: Correct. This action is known as the "three checks" and is an essential step in medication administration. The nurse should compare the medication label with the medication administration record before removing the medication, after removing the medication, and at the bedside before administering the medication.