A nurse is preparing to collect data from a client for a health assessment. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?

The correct answer is Choice B.

Choice A rationale: Placing the client in a room with another client who has pharyngitis is not recommended. Pharyngitis can be caused by various different pathogens, not just streptococci. Co-housing clients with different infections can lead to cross-infection, complicating both clients’ conditions. Therefore, this choice is not the best option.

Choice B rationale: Ensuring that the client wears a surgical mask during transportation throughout the facility is the correct choice. Streptococcal infections are spread through respiratory droplets. A surgical mask can help prevent the spread of these droplets, protecting other clients and healthcare workers in the facility. This is a standard precaution in infection control.

Choice C rationale: Limiting the client’s visitors to visitations of 30 minutes is not necessarily beneficial. The duration of the visit does not significantly impact the risk of transmission as much as the precautions taken during the visit, such as hand hygiene and wearing a mask. Therefore, while limiting visitation time might reduce exposure, it is not the most effective measure to prevent the spread of infection.

Choice D rationale: Providing the client a room with negative pressure airflow of six air exchanges per hour is not necessary for a client with a streptococcal infection. Negative pressure rooms are typically used for clients with airborne diseases, such as tuberculosis. A streptococcal infection is spread through droplets, not airborne transmission, so a negative pressure room would not provide any additional benefit.

A: While volunteering at a local food pantry can be a meaningful activity, it is not the priority when considering Maslow's hierarchy of needs. Physiological needs, such as nutrition and exercise, take precedence.
B: Correct. Attending an exercise program addresses the client's physiological needs (specifically the need for physical activity and health) and takes priority over other options in this context.
C: Finding an enjoyable hobby addresses the client's need for self-fulfillment and self-esteem, which comes at a higher level in Maslow's hierarchy. It is not the immediate priority during discharge planning.
D: Supporting environmental conservation aligns with self-actualization, which is a higher-level need in Maslow's hierarchy. It is not the priority during discharge planning.