A nurse is caring for a client who requires airborne precautions. The nurse is preparing to leave the client's room following a dressing change. Which of the following pieces of personal protective equipment should the nurse remove first?

A. Occupational therapist:

While occupational therapists play a valuable role in stroke rehabilitation, they typically focus on activities of daily living (ADLs), upper extremity function, and adaptive strategies. In the context of frequent coughing during swallowing, the expertise of an SLP is more directly relevant to address potential dysphagia.

B. Physical therapist:

Physical therapists primarily focus on mobility, strength, and balance. While they may be involved in stroke rehabilitation, the issue of coughing during swallowing is more aligned with the scope of practice of a speech-language pathologist.

C. Speech-language pathologist:

This is the correct answer. A speech-language pathologist (SLP) specializes in assessing and treating communication and swallowing disorders. In this case, the client is experiencing coughing when swallowing, indicating a potential swallowing (dysphagia) issue. The SLP can conduct a thorough evaluation of the client's swallowing function and recommend appropriate interventions, such as swallowing exercises or modified diets, to address the coughing and improve safe swallowing.

D. Social worker:

Social workers provide support for psychosocial and community-related issues. While they are crucial members of the interdisciplinary team, they may not have the specific expertise needed to address the swallowing difficulties experienced by the client after a stroke

A. Check that the client has a small gauge IV catheter in place.

Blood transfusions require a large-bore IV catheter (18-20 gauge) to prevent hemolysis and ensure efficient infusion. A small gauge IV (such as 22-24G) is not appropriate for PRBCs as it can slow the infusion and damage red blood cells.

B. Check the blood product's compatibility with the client's blood type: Before administering packed red blood cells (PRBCs), the nurse must verify blood compatibility to prevent a hemolytic transfusion reaction, which can be life-threatening.

C. Prime the client's primary IV tubing with lactated Ringer’s.

Only normal saline (0.9% NaCl) should be used to prime the IV tubing for a blood transfusion. Lactated Ringer’s and dextrose solutions can cause hemolysis and clotting of the blood product.

D. Confirm the identity of the client with the blood bank technician.While verifying the blood product is critical, the nurse should confirm the client’s identity at the bedside with another licensed nurse, not the blood bank technician. This ensures that the right blood is given to the right client following facility protocols.