The charge nurse must assign rooms to 4 clients who are scheduled for admission. Which client has the highest priority for a private room assignment? A)Client who is a known IV drug abuser who has osteomyelitis of the arm and chronic hepatitis C B)Client with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease who has a latent tuberculosis infection C)Client with diabetes mellitus and HIV infection who is in diabetic ketoacidosis D)Client with pneumonia who has a positive methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus nose culture

Question

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A client with a positive nose swab for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is colonized and can transmit the bacteria to others. If signs of infection are absent, treatment is not required. Colonized clients are at increased risk for infection with MRSA; if signs (eg, fever, wound drainage, purulent mucus) are present, treatment is required. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends placing a colonized client on contact precautions and in a private room. The CDC also recommends that the highest priority be given to placing a colonized client who may transmit the bacteria through body secretions or excretions (eg, sputum, wound drainage) in a private room. Therefore, the client with pneumonia should be placed in the private room. (Options A and C) The CDC recommends standard precautions for clients with hepatitis C and those who are HIV positive. A private room is not necessary for a client who has osteomyelitis or diabetic ketoacidosis. (Option B) A client with a latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) has a positive tuberculin skin test, has no symptoms of infection, and is not contagious. Immunosuppressant drugs, chemotherapy, and debilitating disease can convert a LTBI to active disease. At this time, the client requires only standard precautions. Educational objective: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends contact precautions and private room placement for a client who is colonized with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, especially if the client can transmit the bacteria through body secretions or excretions.

The Charge Nurse Must Assign Rooms to 4 Clients Who