A nurse is assisting in monitoring a client who is receiving a tube feeding. Which of the following findings should the nurse identify as the priority?

A. This statement is incorrect because after instilling ointment, the client should close their eye gently and avoid blinking to allow the ointment to spread over the conjunctival sac.
B. When applying ophthalmic ointment, the client should pull down the lower eyelid to create a small pocket (conjunctival sac) and then apply a thin line of ointment along this pocket. This method helps the ointment distribute evenly over the affected area.
C. While this is a correct technique for cleaning around the eye, it is not directly related to the application of ophthalmic ointment.
D. This statement is unnecessary and may confuse the client. It's typically not required to use sterile gloves for applying ophthalmic ointment, and most ointments come with a sterile applicator or can be applied using clean hands if instructed to do so by a healthcare provider.

A. Contact precautions primarily focus on preventing direct transmission of pathogens through physical contact. Therefore, wearing a mask is not typically required unless the client is also suspected or known to have respiratory infections that require airborne precautions. The standard precautions include wearing gloves and a gown when entering the client's room.
B. This is a key principle of contact precautions. The nurse should ensure that equipment (such as blood pressure cuffs, stethoscopes) and supplies (like thermometers) used for the client are dedicated solely to that client and are not shared with other clients. This helps prevent the spread of pathogens to other clients or areas of the healthcare facility.
C. Contact precautions involve limiting the client's movement outside of their room to essential purposes only. Allowing the client to leave the room frequently increases the risk of spreading infectious agents to other areas of the healthcare facility and to other individuals.
D. Potted plants can harbor soil that may contain microorganisms. Contact precautions focus on preventing direct transmission through physical contact, and while soil is not typically a medium for transmission of common healthcare-associated pathogens, removing plants helps maintain cleanliness and reduces potential reservoirs for contamination.