A nurse is reinforcing teaching about the care of a client who has tinea corporis with a newly licensed nurse. Which of the following should the nurse include in the teaching?

Choice A Reason:
Administering a prescribed oral dose of trazodone to the client is correct. Trazodone is sometimes used to manage agitation in patients with Alzheimer's disease, as it has calming effects and can help reduce agitation and anxiety. However, the use of any medication should be based on the client's individualized treatment plan and prescribed by a healthcare provider.
Choice B Reason:
Encouraging ambulation might not be suitable if the client is agitated, as it could potentially escalate the situation or increase the risk of falls or injury. Safety should be a priority, and ambulation might not be advisable during a state of agitation.
Choice C Reason:
Isolating the client in their room is incorrect. Isolating the client might increase feelings of confusion, fear, or distress, potentially worsening the agitation. It's important to engage and support the client rather than isolate them, which can be distressing for someone with Alzheimer's disease.
Choice D Reason:
Applying bilateral wrist restraints to the client is incorrect. The use of restraints should only be considered as a last resort when all other measures have failed and when there's an immediate risk of harm to the client or others. Restraints can be physically and psychologically harmful, leading to increased agitation, anxiety, and potential injury. They should be used only under strict guidelines and with proper authorization when all other interventions have been exhausted.

Choice A Reason:

Place on airborne precautions. This is incorrect. Tinea corporis isn't transmitted through the air. Airborne precautions are specific infection control measures for diseases transmitted through airborne particles, like tuberculosis or measles, which are caused by specific bacteria or viruses.

Choice B Reason:

Avoid direct contact is correct. Direct contact is a crucial precaution to prevent the spread of tinea corporis. It's a contagious infection, often transmitted through skin-to-skin contact or by sharing contaminated items such as clothing, towels, or bedding. Encouraging precautions like not sharing personal items and avoiding direct skin contact helps prevent the spread of the infection to others.

Choice C Reason:

Isolate for 24 hr. after lesions appear is incorrect. While it's essential to take precautions to prevent spread, isolating for only 24 hours after lesions appear might not be sufficient. The infection can remain contagious until it's effectively treated and lesions have resolved. More extended isolation or precautions might be necessary until the infection is no longer transmissible.

Choice D Reason:

Administer a broad-spectrum antibiotic is incorrect. Tinea corporis is a fungal infection, not a bacterial one, so antibiotics would not be effective against it. Antifungal medications, such as topical or oral antifungals, are the primary treatment for tinea corporis. Using an antibiotic would not treat the fungal infection and might lead to inappropriate medication use.