A nurse is caring for a client who reports back pain. The nurse asks the client to rate the pain on a scale of 0 to 10. The nurse is using which of the following components of the PQRST mnemonic?

A) Asking the client to cough while inserting the NG tube:
This action is not necessary and may not be appropriate during the insertion of an NG tube. Coughing can increase the risk of gagging and aspiration during the procedure.

B) Wearing sterile gloves to insert the NG tube:
While the nurse should maintain appropriate hand hygiene, wearing sterile gloves is not typically necessary for the insertion of an NG tube. Clean gloves are sufficient for this procedure.

C) Placing the client into a left lateral position before inserting the NG tube:
Positioning the client in a high Fowler's position (sitting upright) or semi-Fowler's position is generally preferred for NG tube insertion to facilitate tube passage into the esophagus and reduce the risk of aspiration. Placing the client in a left lateral position is not typically done for NG tube insertion.

D) Determining the length of the NG tube to be inserted prior to the procedure:
This is the correct action. Before inserting the NG tube, the nurse should measure the distance from the tip of the client's nose to the earlobe and then from the earlobe to the xiphoid process or the mark on the NG tube corresponding to the desired insertion length. This helps ensure that the tube is inserted to the appropriate depth and reaches the desired location within the gastrointestinal tract.

A. Airborne:
Airborne precautions are used for infections transmitted via small droplet nuclei that remain suspended in the air for long periods and can be inhaled by others. Examples of diseases requiring airborne precautions include tuberculosis, measles, and chickenpox. Pertussis is not transmitted via the airborne route.

B. Contact:
Contact precautions are used for infections spread by direct or indirect contact with the client or their environment. Examples include Clostridioides difficile, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), and vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE). Pertussis is primarily spread through respiratory droplets rather than contact with contaminated surfaces.

C. Droplet:
Pertussis is primarily spread through respiratory droplets when an infected person coughs or sneezes. The nurse should initiate droplet precautions to prevent the transmission of the bacteria to others. These include wearing a surgical mask when within 3 feet of the client, placing the client in a private room or cohorting with another client who has the same infection, and ensuring that visitors wear masks and practice hand hygiene.

D. Protective:
Protective precautions, also known as reverse isolation, are used to protect clients who have compromised immune systems from exposure to pathogens. This precaution is not relevant for a client with pertussis; instead, the focus is on preventing transmission to others through droplet precautions.