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Question

Difficulty: MediumStandard and Transmission-Based Precautions

A registered nurse (RN) delegates the care of a 6-month-old infant diagnosed with pertussis (whooping cough) to a practical nurse (PN). Which action by the PN demonstrates safe adherence to transmission-based precautions and scope of practice?

  1. Donning a standard surgical mask immediately before entering the infant's private room to administer prescribed oral medications.Answer
  2. B
    Accepting the delegation to formulate and document the initial nursing care plan regarding the infant's respiratory isolation requirements.
  3. C
    Lowering the surgical mask to rest around the neck while speaking to the parents, then repositioning it securely over the nose and mouth.
  4. D
    Removing the surgical mask first before taking off the gloves that were used to dispose of the infant's soiled tissues.

Answer

The correct action is to don a standard surgical mask immediately before entering the infant's private room to administer prescribed oral medications.
Pertussis requires droplet precautions, meaning a standard surgical mask must be worn when entering the client's room. Administering oral medications is a routine task that falls safely within the scope of practice for a practical nurse (PN).

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the transmission-based precautions required for pertussis (whooping cough).
Pertussis is transmitted via large respiratory droplets, requiring droplet precautions.
Knowing the correct precaution determines the necessary personal protective equipment (PPE), which includes a standard surgical mask.
2
Evaluate the clinical tasks assigned to the PN for scope of practice appropriateness.
Administering oral medications is within the PN scope of practice, whereas formulating an initial care plan is restricted to the RN.
The PN must recognize and decline tasks that require RN-level assessment or planning to ensure safe client care.
3
Assess the correct usage and doffing sequence of PPE in the remaining options.
Wearing a mask around the neck or removing a mask with contaminated gloves are both critical safety violations.
Improper handling of PPE leads to self-contamination and the spread of infectious pathogens.

Key Concept

Droplet Precautions and PN Scope of Practice
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Topics

Standard and Transmission-Based Precautions

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