A nurse is caring for a school-age child who is 2 hr postoperative following cardiac catheterization.

The nurse observes blood on the child’s dressing.

Which of the following actions should the nurse take?

The correct answer is b. “I can visit my nephew who has chickenpox 5 days after the sores have crusted.”

Choice A rationale:

• Statement:“I should take antibiotics when I have a virus.”
• Rationale:This statement is incorrect.Antibiotics are medications that fight bacteria,not viruses.Taking antibiotics when you have a virus will not help you get better and can actually lead to antibiotic resistance.

Choice B rationale:

• Statement:“I can visit my nephew who has chickenpox 5 days after the sores have crusted.”
• Rationale:This statement is correct.Chickenpox is a highly contagious virus that is spread through the air by coughing and sneezing.However,a person with chickenpox is no longer contagious once all of the sores have crusted over.This typically happens about 5 days after the rash first appears.

Choice C rationale:

• Statement:“I should wash my hands for 10 seconds with hot water after working in the garden.”
• Rationale:This statement is partially correct.Handwashing is an important way to prevent the spread of infection.However,the water does not need to be hot.Warm or cold water is just as effective.It is also important to wash your hands for at least 20 seconds,not 10 seconds.

Choice D rationale:

• Statement:“I can clean my cat’s litter box during my pregnancy.”
• Rationale:This statement is incorrect.Cat feces can contain a parasite called Toxoplasma gondii,which can cause a serious infection called toxoplasmosis.Toxoplasmosis can be harmful to a developing baby.It is best to avoid cleaning cat litter boxes during pregnancy.If you must clean the litter box,wear gloves and wash your hands thoroughly afterwards.

A healthcare surrogate is a person who is authorized to make healthcare decisions for a client who is unable to do so. The nurse has a legal and ethical responsibility to ensure that the client’s surrogate has given informed consent for the surgery, which means that they have received adequate information about the procedure, its purpose, its risks, its benefits, and its alternatives.
Choice A is wrong because sending the unsigned informed consent form to the facility’s risk manager does not ensure that the client’s surrogate has given informed consent. The risk manager is not involved in the consent process and cannot authorize the surgery without the surrogate’s consent.
Choice B is wrong because ensuring that the client’s family supports the provider’s decision for surgery is not the same as obtaining informed consent from the surrogate.

The family may have different opinions or preferences than the surrogate, and the surrogate may not agree with the provider’s decision. The nurse should respect the surrogate’s autonomy and authority to make decisions for the client.
Choice C is wrong because determining if the procedure is medically necessary for the client is not the nurse’s role.
The provider is responsible for determining the medical necessity of the surgery and explaining it to the surrogate. The nurse should not question or interfere with the provider’s judgment unless there is evidence of negligence or malpractice.