When a nurse obtains an unusually low blood pressure measurement for a client whose blood pressure is generally elevated, she considers the possibility of a problem with her technique. Which of the following sources of error should she consider as a possible cause of the low reading?

Choice A reason: The severity of the condition may not always correlate with the level of pain experienced by the client. Pain is a subjective experience, and two individuals with the same condition may report different levels of pain.

Choice B reason: Vital signs can be indicators of pain but are not always reliable. For example, some clients may exhibit increased heart rate or blood pressure when in pain, while others may not show significant changes in vital signs despite severe pain.

Choice C reason: Nonverbal behavior can be an indicator of pain, especially in clients who are unable to communicate verbally. However, it is still considered less reliable than self-report because it is subject to interpretation by the observer.

Choice D reason: Self-report of pain is considered the most reliable indicator of a patient's pain experience. It is a direct expression of the client's experience and should be the primary source of assessment whenever possible.

Choice A reason: Droplet precautions are used for diseases that are spread by large respiratory droplets produced by coughing, sneezing, or talking. Examples include influenza, pertussis, and mumps. However, tuberculosis is not spread through large droplets but through airborne particles that can remain suspended in the air for long periods.

Choice B reason: Airborne precautions are necessary for diseases that are transmitted by smaller droplets, which can be suspended in the air for extended periods and can be inhaled. Tuberculosis, particularly pulmonary or laryngeal tuberculosis with a productive cough, requires airborne precautions because the bacteria can be expelled into the air and inhaled by others. The nurse should initiate airborne precautions, which include placing the patient in a negative pressure room and using personal protective equipment such as N95 respirators.

Choice C reason: Contact precautions are used for infections that are spread by direct contact with the patient or the patient's environment. Examples include infections caused by multidrug-resistant organisms, scabies, and norovirus. Tuberculosis is not spread by direct contact, so contact precautions are not the primary method of prevention.

Choice D reason: Protective isolation, also known as neutropenic or reverse isolation, is used to protect immunocompromised patients from infections. It is not used for patients with tuberculosis, as the goal is to protect others from the tuberculosis bacteria, not to protect the patient from external infections.