Test your knowledge with this NCLEX Question of the Day: Which action(s) should the nurse take to minimize the risk of spreading infection to other patients and staff?
The nurse in the medical unit is caring for a client on contact precautions for varicella zoster. Which action(s) should the nurse take to decrease the risk of spreading the infection to other clients and staff? Select all that apply.
A. Place a personal protective equipment (PPE) cart outside the client’s door
B. Place proper infection control signage outside the client’s room
C. Use dedicated equipment in the client’s room
D. Avoid taking unnecessary equipment into the client’s room
E. Restrict visitors from seeing the client
Scroll down for the correct answer!
The correct answers to today’s NCLEX-RN® Question are…
A. Place a personal protective equipment (PPE) cart outside the client’s door
Rationale: Many organizations will place a dedicated PPE cart outside the client’s room so all necessary PPE is readily available in the event they need to enter the client’s room in a hurry.
B. Place proper infection control signage outside the client’s room
Rationale: The nurse should place proper signage at all entry points of a client’s room. This is important because it makes staff and visitors aware of the precautions so they can apply the appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) before entering the room.
C. Use dedicated equipment in the client’s room
Rationale: Clients on transmission-based precautions typically have dedicated equipment in their room for use, like a disposable stethoscope or blood pressure cuff, to prevent the transmission of infection.
D. Avoid taking unnecessary equipment into the client’s room
Rationale: Because items become “contaminated” in a client’s room who is on transmission-based precautions, the nurse should be sure to avoid taking in unnecessary equipment that cannot be easily sterilized.
Major Takeaway

Whenever a nurse is caring for a client who’s placed on transmission-based precautions, they should follow the organization’s policies to place proper signage at all entry points of the client’s room. This is important because it makes staff and visitors aware of the precautions so they can apply the appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) before entering the room. Also, many organizations will place a dedicated PPE cart outside the client’s room, so all necessary PPE is readily available in the instance they may be needed to enter a client’s room in a hurry. It may also be the nurse’s responsibility to check that the cart is adequately stocked. Also, clients on transmission-based precautions can have dedicated equipment in their room for use, like a disposable stethoscope or blood pressure cuff, so the nurse should be sure to avoid taking in unnecessary equipment that cannot be easily sterilized.
Incorrect answer explanations
E. Restrict visitors from seeing the client
Rationale: Visitors do not need to be restricted from seeing a client in contact isolation. Instead, visitors should be educated on the type of precautions needed and to perform hand hygiene before entering and after exiting the room.
________________________
Want more NCLEX®-style practice questions? Try Osmosis by Elsevier today! Access your free trial and find out why millions of current and future clinicians and caregivers love learning with us.

Leave a Reply