A nurse is presenting to a class about fall prevention to a group of assisted-living residents. Which of the following statements by a resident best indicates an understanding of the teaching?

A. Wear sterile gloves: Sterile gloves are not necessary for checking a pulse. Sterile gloves are typically used for procedures that involve direct contact with sterile areas or instruments. Checking a pulse does not require maintaining a sterile field, so clean gloves are sufficient.

B. Wear an N95 respirator mask: An N95 respirator mask is typically required for airborne precautions, such as those used for tuberculosis, but not for MRSA. MRSA is primarily transmitted through direct contact with infected wounds or contaminated surfaces, so an N95 mask is not needed for this situation.

C. Wear clean gloves: Wearing clean gloves is the appropriate action when interacting with a client who has MRSA. This helps to prevent the transmission of bacteria and protects both the client and the nurse. Clean gloves should be used for any contact with the client or their environment to minimize the risk of spreading infection.

D. Wear protective eyewear: Protective eyewear is generally used when there is a risk of splashes or sprays of bodily fluids. In this scenario, unless there is a specific risk of such exposure during the pulse check, protective eyewear is not necessary. Clean gloves are the primary requirement for basic contact precautions with MRSA.

A. Partial thromboplastin time (PTT) 65 seconds: The normal PTT range is typically between 25 to 35 seconds for patients not on anticoagulants. For a patient receiving heparin therapy, the therapeutic PTT range is usually 1.5 to 2.5 times the normal value, which translates to approximately 60 to 100 seconds. A PTT of 65 seconds is at the lower end of the therapeutic range and may require adjustment in dosage or closer monitoring, especially if there are concerns about achieving adequate anticoagulation for the treatment of a pulmonary embolism. It is important to report this value to the provider.

B. Hematocrit 45%: A hematocrit of 45% is within the normal range for adult females (38% to 47%) and males (40% to 54%). This value does not indicate any immediate concern related to heparin therapy or the treatment of a pulmonary embolism.

C. White blood cell count 8.000/mm³: A white blood cell count of 8,000/mm³ is within the normal range (4,500 to 11,000/mm³) and does not indicate any infection or inflammatory process that requires immediate reporting.

D. Platelets: The specific platelet count value is not provided. However, heparin therapy can lead to thrombocytopenia (low platelet count), so if the platelet count is below 150,000/mm³, it should be reported to the provider. Without the specific value, it is not possible to determine if this requires reporting.