A nurse observes a client who is at 37 weeks of gestation and has preeclampsia with severe features having a seizure. Which of the following actions following the seizure should the nurse take first?

Rationale:

A. Contact: Contact precautions are used for infections transmitted by direct or indirect contact with the client or their environment, such as MRSA or C. difficile. Erythema migrans, associated with Lyme disease, is not spread through contact.

B. Droplet: Droplet precautions are for infections transmitted through large respiratory droplets, such as influenza or pertussis. Lyme disease does not spread via respiratory secretions, so droplet precautions are unnecessary.

C. Airborne: Airborne precautions apply to infections transmitted via small particles that remain suspended in the air, such as tuberculosis or measles. Lyme disease is not airborne, so this precaution is not required.

D. Standard: Standard precautions are appropriate for Lyme disease, including erythema migrans. These precautions involve routine hand hygiene, use of gloves when in contact with body fluids, and proper handling of contaminated materials, which are sufficient since the disease is transmitted via tick bites, not person-to-person.

Rationale:

• Difficulty walking: Bone injury limits weight-bearing ability and causes alterations in gait. Localized pain and instability can make ambulation difficult. Clients often compensate with limping to avoid pressure on the injured limb. In DVT, A clot in the deep veins causes swelling and discomfort, making ambulation painful. The heaviness and fullness in the limb interfere with normal gait. Clients may develop a limp due to localized tenderness.

• Pain: A fracture typically produces sharp, localized pain that worsens with movement. Tissue disruption and swelling contribute to discomfort. The pain limits limb use and is often immediate after injury. DVT often causes aching or cramping pain in the affected limb, especially with walking. Venous congestion and inflammation contribute to tenderness. Pain increases when the calf is compressed or when standing.

• Limb heaviness: Venous obstruction causes blood pooling, producing a heavy and tight sensation. This finding reflects impaired venous return, especially when swelling is also present. It is common in unilateral DVT. A fracture typically causes sharp, localized pain rather than diffuse heaviness. Heaviness is more strongly associated with venous congestion.

• Fever: Low-grade fever may occur due to inflammatory response around the thrombus. Cytokine release produces systemic symptoms during clot formation. It can accompany swelling, warmth, and redness. A simple fracture does not generally cause systemic fever unless infection develops. Fever is more indicative of inflammatory or infectious conditions.

• Edema: Venous blockage leads to unilateral swelling due to trapped fluid and elevated venous pressure. The affected limb becomes warm, enlarged, and firm. This is a hallmark finding in deep vein thrombosis. While swelling may occur after a fracture, the client’s presentation shows significant unilateral edema matching venous obstruction.