A home health nurse is assessing the health history of a new client.
Which of the following conditions should the nurse identify as increasing the client’s risk for falls?

Choice A rationale

Airborne precautions are recommended for a client who has laryngeal tuberculosis. This is because tuberculosis is an airborne disease, meaning it is spread through the air when a person with active tuberculosis in their lungs or throat coughs, sneezes, speaks, or sings.

Choice B rationale

A protective environment is not specifically required for a client with laryngeal tuberculosis. This type of precaution is typically used for patients who are severely immunocompromised, such as those undergoing stem cell transplants.

Choice C rationale

Contact precautions are not necessary for a client with laryngeal tuberculosis. These precautions are used for diseases that are spread by direct or indirect contact, which is not the case with tuberculosis.

Choice D rationale

Droplet precautions are not recommended for a client with laryngeal tuberculosis. These precautions are used for diseases that are spread through droplets in the air, such as influenza or pertussis, but tuberculosis requires airborne precautions due to the smaller size and longer airborne life of the tuberculosis bacteria.

Choice A rationale

While the agency’s billing department does have access to a client’s medical record, it is not the primary information that should be shared when preparing a client to sign a HIPAA acknowledgement form. The billing department’s access is primarily for billing purposes and not for the broad sharing of health information.

Choice B rationale

This is the correct answer. Under the HIPAA Privacy Rule, healthcare providers are allowed to share a client’s current medical information with other providers who are involved in their care. This is done to ensure continuity of care and to provide the best possible treatment for

the client. It is important for the client to understand this as it is a key aspect of the HIPAA Privacy Rule.

Choice C rationale

While it is true that a healthcare provider can assist a client in making decisions about who to disclose their health information to, this is not the primary purpose of the HIPAA acknowledgement form. The form is more about informing the client of how their information may be used and shared, rather than assisting them in making disclosure decisions.

Choice D rationale

Assistive personnel do not have access to a client’s prior admission information unless it is necessary for them to carry out their job duties. This is a common misconception and it is important for clients to understand that their information is protected and only shared on a need-to-know basis.