A nurse is planning postoperative care for a client who is scheduled for a thoracotomy with chest tube placement.
Which of the following pieces of equipment should the nurse plan to have at the client's bedside?

Assign the client to a private room with negative air pressure.

Rationale:

• A. Incorrect. Restricting fresh flowers from the client's room is not necessary for infection control purposes. However, some clients with pulmonary tuberculosis may have hypersensitivity reactions to certain plants or flowers, so the nurse should assess the client's allergies before allowing them in the room.
• B. Incorrect. Maintaining a distance of 1.8 m (6 feet) from the client is not sufficient to prevent transmission of tuberculosis. Visitors should also wear a HEPA respirator and limit their contact time with the client.
• C. Incorrect. A surgical mask is not adequate to protect the nurse from inhaling airborne droplet nuclei that contain Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The nurse should wear a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) respirator when providing client care.
• D. Correct. Assigning the client to a private room with negative air pressure is the most effective way to prevent the spread of tuberculosis to other clients and staff members. The room should have at least six air exchanges per hour and an exhaust system that vents directly to the outside.

A. "Limit each of the client's visitors to 2 hr per day."
This is incorrect. While visitors should have their exposure limited, the recommended duration is typically much shorter (around 30 minutes to 1 hour), not 2 hours. This is to reduce radiation exposure.

B. "Instruct visitors to stay 1 m (3.3 feet) away from the client."
This is correct. For clients undergoing brachytherapy with a low-dose radiation implant, visitors should maintain a safe distance, usually at least 6 feet (1.8 meters), but some guidelines may state a minimum of 3.3 feet (1 meter) for safety, depending on the specific radiation dose and facility protocols.

C. "Attach a dosimeter to the client's gown."
This is incorrect. Dosimeters are generally worn by healthcare providers, not the patient. The primary purpose is to measure the radiation exposure of healthcare workers, not the patient.

D. "Strain the client's urine."
This is incorrect. Straining urine is not necessary for a patient undergoing brachytherapy. However, it may be important to monitor the urine for signs of radiation leakage, but straining is not a routine part of care.