A nurse in the Medical-Surgical unit is caring for a client who has had an allogeneic hematopoietic stem-cell transplant. Which of the following infection-control precautions should the nurse use while caring for this client?

Choice A rationale:

Asking the patient why this medication has been ordered is not the appropriate action because patients might not have accurate medical knowledge to provide a valid explanation for the prescription. The nurse should rely on healthcare professionals for accurate information.

Choice B rationale:

Verifying with the hospital administration is not necessary in this situation. The decision to prescribe medication is made by the healthcare provider, not the hospital administration.

Choice C rationale:

Verifying with the prescribing healthcare provider is the most appropriate action. The healthcare provider has the medical knowledge and rationale for prescribing a specific medication. This ensures that the nurse administers the medication safely and in alignment with the patient's condition and treatment plan.

Choice D rationale:

Asking another nurse might not yield accurate information about the rationale behind the medication order. It's best to directly communicate with the healthcare provider responsible for the patient's care.

The correct answer is choice B. Increased anteroposterior diameter of the chest.

Choice A rationale:

Petechiae on the chest (Choice A) are tiny red or purple spots that appear on the skin due to small blood vessel breakage. They are not typically associated with COPD and emphysema. Petechiae are more often related to conditions like thrombocytopenia or certain infections, where blood clotting is impaired.

Choice B rationale:

Increased anteroposterior diameter of the chest, often referred to as "barrel chest," is a characteristic finding in clients with COPD and emphysema. This occurs due to the hyperinflation of the lungs and the loss of elasticity in the lung tissues, which causes the chest to become rounded and the ribs to be positioned more horizontally.

Choice C rationale:

An oxygen saturation level of 96% (Choice C) is within the normal range for oxygen saturation. However, while it's important for clients with COPD to maintain adequate oxygen levels, this value doesn't specifically correlate with the client's symptoms of a wet cough and occasional shortness of breath.

Choice D rationale:

Respiratory alkalosis (Choice D) involves an increase in blood pH due to decreased levels of carbon dioxide (hypocapnia) caused by hyperventilation. While respiratory alkalosis can occur in clients with COPD due to compensatory hyperventilation, it is not a direct assessment finding related to the client's symptoms of a wet cough and occasional shortness of breath.