A nurse is caring for a client who follows a kosher diet.
Which of the following menu items should the nurse include on the tray?

Choice A rationale:

Children who have erythema infectiosum (fifth disease) require short-term antibiotic therapy. Erythema infectiosum, also known as fifth disease, is caused by a virus and does not require antibiotic therapy. It is a self-limiting illness that does not respond to antibiotics.

Choice B rationale:

Administration of childhood immunizations will prevent exanthem subitum (roseola infantum) Exanthem subitum, or roseola infantum, is typically a viral illness and is not prevented by childhood immunizations. It is caused by human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6) and human herpesvirus 7 (HHV-7)

Choice C rationale:

Restrict fluids for children who have pertussis. Restricting fluids for children with pertussis is not recommended. Pertussis, also known as whooping cough, can cause severe coughing spells, and it is important to ensure that affected children stay well-hydrated. Restricting fluids can lead to dehydration, which can worsen the condition.

Choice D rationale:

Isolate children who have varicella until the vesicles have formed crusts. Isolation of children with varicella (chickenpox) until the vesicles have formed crusts is a standard infection control measure. Varicella is highly contagious, and isolating affected individuals helps prevent the spread of the virus to others. Once the vesicles have crusted over, the risk of transmission is significantly reduced.

The correct answer is: a. The client’s date of birth.

Choice A reason: The client’s date of birth is a critical identifier in healthcare settings. It is unique to the individual and does not change, making it a reliable way to confirm a patient’s identity. This is especially important in acute care settings where accurate patient identification is crucial for safe medication administration. Using the date of birth along with another identifier, such as the patient’s name, aligns with the best practices for patient safety.

Choice B reason: While a client’s full medical diagnosis is important information for a nurse to know, it is not used as an identifier for medication administration. The diagnosis helps inform treatment decisions and care planning but does not uniquely identify a patient. Multiple patients could have the same diagnosis, which could lead to medication errors if used as an identifier.

Choice C reason: A client’s telephone number is not a standard identifier used in healthcare settings for medication administration. Telephone numbers can change and are not unique to an individual. They also do not provide immediate verification of a patient’s identity at the bedside.

Choice D reason: The room number of the client is not a primary identifier for patient identification in medication administration. Room numbers are not unique to individuals and can change if a patient is moved. It is possible for errors to occur if room numbers are used as the sole identifier, as another patient could be in that room at a different time.