A charge nurse on a neurological unit is making room assignments for a group of clients. Which of the following clients should the nurse assign to the room closest to the nurses' station?

Choice A reason: A client with type 1 diabetes mellitus who has taken a high dose of insulin is at significant risk for hypoglycemia. In type 1 diabetes, the body does not produce insulin, so insulin therapy is essential for controlling blood glucose levels. However, if the dose of insulin is too high relative to the patient's dietary intake or physical activity level, it can lead to a rapid decrease in blood glucose levels, resulting in hypoglycemia. Hypoglycemia is defined as a blood glucose level less than 70 mg/dL (3.9 mmol/L) and can cause symptoms such as confusion, sweating, weakness, and in severe cases, seizures or loss of consciousness.

Choice B reason: A client with type 2 diabetes who has not taken any medication may have elevated blood glucose levels but is not typically at immediate risk for hypoglycemia unless they are taking medications that lower blood glucose. Type 2 diabetes is characterized by insulin resistance, and while medication can help manage it, skipping medication does not usually result in hypoglycemia unless other factors are at play.

Choice C reason: An older adult client taking an antibiotic for an infection is not generally at risk for hypoglycemia unless the antibiotic interacts with other medications that the client is taking for diabetes management. Antibiotics themselves do not typically cause hypoglycemia.

Choice D reason: A client who has metabolic syndrome and is taking a statin drug to lower cholesterol levels is not at direct risk for hypoglycemia from the statin medication. Metabolic syndrome is a cluster of conditions that increase the risk for heart disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes. While statins are used to lower cholesterol levels, they do not have a direct impact on blood glucose levels that would lead to hypoglycemia.

Choice A reason: Applying antibiotic ointment to the lesions is not recommended for the treatment of genital herpes, which is caused by a virus, not bacteria. Antiviral medications are the appropriate treatment for managing herpes outbreaks.

Choice B reason: Natural skin condoms are not effective in preventing the transmission of genital herpes because the virus can pass through the natural membrane. The use of latex or polyurethane condoms is recommended as they are more effective in reducing the risk of transmission.

Choice C reason: Expecting lesions to resolve in 6 weeks may not be accurate as the duration of a herpes outbreak can vary. Most herpes lesions tend to resolve within 2 to 4 weeks. However, the virus remains in the body and can cause recurrent outbreaks.

Choice D reason: The duration of medication for genital herpes depends on whether the treatment is for an initial outbreak, chronic suppression, or episodic therapy. For an initial outbreak, antiviral medication is typically taken for 7 to 10 days. For chronic suppression, medication might be taken daily for an extended period to prevent or reduce the frequency of outbreaks.