A client is brought to the emergency department with possible inhalation anthrax. Which precautions should the staff take?
Respiratory
Standard
Contact
Airborne
The Correct Answer is B
Inhalation anthrax, caused by Bacillus anthracis spores, involves rapid germination in mediastinal lymph nodes leading to hemorrhagic mediastinitis and septicemia. It is not transmitted person-to-person; rather, it results from direct aerosolized spore inhalation or cutaneous exposure to infected animal products.
Rationale:
A. Respiratory precautions are not indicated because inhalation anthrax does not spread through large droplets from the oropharynx. While the initial symptoms mimic a viral prodrome, the bacteria remain localized within the mediastinum and blood rather than respiratory secretions.
B. Standard precautions are the clinical requirement for anthrax because the disease is not contagious between humans. Healthcare workers utilize gloves and gowns only if expecting contact with body fluids or open skin lesions, as direct transmission does not occur.
C. Contact precautions are unnecessary unless the patient has draining cutaneous anthrax lesions that could contaminate the environment. For inhalation cases, the spores are already internalized and do not pose a cross-contamination risk to staff through normal physical contact or fomites.
D. Airborne precautions are reserved for pathogens like Mycobacterium tuberculosis that travel via small-particle aerosols from coughing. Though anthrax spores are inhaled, the vegetative cells present during active infection are not shed into the air by the patient.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
Seizure disorders are chronic neurological conditions characterized by abnormal, excessive neuronal discharges in the cerebral cortex resulting in transient alteration of consciousness, motor activity, or behavior. Adolescents with epilepsy often experience psychosocial stressors including identity formation, peer conformity pressure, and reduced adherence to safety interventions such as medical identification systems. Failure to use medical alert identification increases risk of delayed emergency recognition, inappropriate treatment during ictal events, and preventable morbidity in out-of-hospital seizures. Effective adherence strategies rely on developmental appropriateness, autonomy support, and behavioral reinforcement aligned with adolescent psychosocial development.
Rationale:
A. This is correct because adolescent adherence improves when interventions support peer conformity and identity integration. Designing a medical alert bracelet that resembles fashionable jewelry reduces stigma and enhances self-acceptance, increasing likelihood of consistent wear during daily activities and emergency situations.
B. This is incorrect because it does not address medical necessity or individual risk disclosure. It may normalize appearance but does not ensure emergency identification, and peers do not require medical alert systems, limiting effectiveness in seizure-related emergencies.
C. This is incorrect because concealment reduces visibility and defeats the purpose of medical identification. Emergency responders rely on immediate visual cues, and covering the bracelet compromises rapid recognition during postictal or unconscious states.
D. This is incorrect because contact sports increase risk of trauma and potential injury from external force on the wrist. While wearing identification is appropriate, suggesting use specifically during high-impact activity does not address adherence barriers or adolescent psychosocial resistance.
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
Professional accountability in nursing requires accepting responsibility for one's actions, clinical judgments, and the resulting patient outcomes within the scope of practice. This ethical principle ensures transparency, maintaining the integrity of the nurse-patient relationship while upholding established standards of care and institutional policies.
Rationale:
A. Admitting a personal error or delay represents the core of professional responsibility and ownership of one's actions. By acknowledging they were running late, the nurse demonstrates honesty and takes direct responsibility for a lapse in the expected timeline of patient care.
B. This statement reflects the principle of advocacy and cultural competence rather than individual responsibility for an action. Accommodating a prayer time demonstrates holistic care and respect for patient autonomy, ensuring that the treatment plan aligns with the client's spiritual values.
C. Encouraging a client to ask questions is an application of informed consent and patient-centered communication. This approach promotes autonomy and ensures the client is an active participant in their own care, but it does not involve the nurse's admission of responsibility.
D. Reviewing allergies before medication administration is a standard safety procedure reflecting the principle of nonmaleficence. While it is a required task, the statement itself describes a preventative action to ensure safety rather than an admission of responsibility for a specific outcome or behavior
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