A nurse is providing education to a group of adolescents who are pregnant and attending high school. Which of the following information should the nurse include in their teaching?

Choice A reason: Organizing an influenza immunization clinic with the American Red Cross is a service that the nurses should plan to provide to the congregation, as it is consistent with the role and scope of parish nursing. Parish nurses, or faith community nurses, are registered nurses who provide education, counseling, referral, advocacy, and volunteer coordination within the context of their faith community¹. They focus on holistic healing and prevention of illness, rather than hands-on care². Organizing an influenza immunization clinic is an example of a preventive and educational service that can benefit the health of the congregation and the community.

Choice B reason: Performing wound care in the home of members is not a service that the nurses should plan to provide to the congregation, as it is outside the role and scope of parish nursing. Parish nurses do not provide direct clinical care, such as wound care, medication administration, or blood pressure monitoring². They may refer members to other health care providers or agencies for these services, or teach members how to perform self-care³.

Choice C reason: Providing end of life care for members who are terminal is not a service that the nurses should plan to provide to the congregation, as it is outside the role and scope of parish nursing. Parish nurses do not provide direct clinical care, such as pain management, symptom control, or palliative care². They may provide spiritual and emotional support, counseling, and advocacy for members who are terminal, or refer them to hospice or other end of life care services³.

Choice D reason: Facilitating discharge from the facility to the home is not a service that the nurses should plan to provide to the congregation, as it is outside the role and scope of parish nursing. Parish nurses do not provide case management, discharge planning, or home health care². They may collaborate with other health care professionals or community agencies to ensure continuity of care and smooth transition for members who are discharged from the facility to the home³.

Choice A reason: The test does not monitor the progression of the disease, as it only detects the presence of antibodies to HIV, not the amount of virus or the damage to the immune system. Other tests, such as viral load and CD4 count, are used to monitor the progression of HIV infection and the response to treatment.

Choice B reason: The test measures antibodies to the virus, which are produced by the immune system in response to HIV infection. The test is used to screen for HIV infection and to confirm the diagnosis. A positive result indicates that the person has been exposed to HIV and has developed antibodies to the virus.

Choice C reason: The test results are not accurate 24 hours after exposure to the virus, as it takes time for the body to produce enough antibodies to be detected by the test. The window period, which is the time between exposure to HIV and a positive test result, varies from person to person, but it can range from 3 weeks to 3 months. Therefore, a negative result does not necessarily rule out HIV infection, and a repeat test may be needed after the window period.

Choice D reason: A positive result does not require initiating immunoglobulin administration, as immunoglobulin is not a treatment for HIV infection. Immunoglobulin is a preparation of antibodies that can provide temporary protection against some infections, but it does not affect HIV. A positive result requires further confirmation by a more specific test, such as the Western blot, and referral to a specialist for treatment and counseling.