A practical nurse (PN) is reviewing infection control procedures with unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP) prior to providing morning care for a client with disseminated herpes zoster. The client is currently on airborne and contact precautions. Which statement by the PN provides the most accurate instruction?
- Ensure the client's room door remains completely closed, and remove your isolation gown and gloves inside the room before you exit.Answer
- BApply a standard surgical mask, an isolation gown, and clean gloves before entering the room to perform any direct client care.
- CYou may keep the room door partially open so the client feels less isolated, as long as you wear an N95 respirator inside.
- DAfter bathing the client, step into the hallway immediately to remove your contaminated gown, gloves, and N95 respirator.
Answer
The correct instruction is to ensure the client's room door remains completely closed, and remove the isolation gown and gloves inside the room before exiting.
The correct instruction accurately reflects both airborne and contact precaution protocols. Airborne precautions require the door to remain completely closed to maintain negative room pressure, containing aerosolized particles. Contact precautions dictate that contaminated PPE (gown and gloves) must be removed inside the client's room before crossing the threshold into the clean hallway environment.
Step-by-Step Solution
Key Concept
Airborne and Contact Precautions for Disseminated Herpes Zoster