A nurse is providing care to a patient with TB undergoing treatment. What nursing intervention is essential to monitor the patient's response to therapy and identify any complications?

Choice A rationale:

Monitor vital signs, fluid intake and output, weight, and skin integrity. This statement is correct. When caring for a patient with chickenpox, monitoring vital signs can help detect any signs of complications like fever. Fluid intake and output, weight, and skin integrity are important to assess the patient's hydration status and the progression of the rash.

Choice B rationale:

Administer medications as prescribed and monitor for adverse effects. This statement is correct. The nurse should give antiviral medications if prescribed to help shorten the duration of the illness and reduce its severity. Monitoring for any adverse effects from the medications is essential for patient safety.

Choice C rationale:

Encourage contact with pregnant women and immunocompromised individuals to build immunity. This statement is incorrect. Encouraging contact with pregnant women and immunocompromised individuals is not appropriate because chickenpox is highly contagious and can pose serious risks to these vulnerable populations. The nurse should advise the patient to avoid contact with them until they are no longer infectious.

Choice D rationale:

Advise the patient to avoid contact with those who have had chickenpox or been vaccinated. This statement is partially correct. The patient should avoid contact with individuals who have not had chickenpox or have not been vaccinated against it to prevent the spread of the disease. However, vaccinated individuals are less likely to transmit the virus than those with active chickenpox.

Choice E rationale:

Isolate the patient until all lesions are crusted over to prevent transmission to others. This statement is correct. Isolating the patient until all the lesions are crusted over is an important infection control measure to prevent the spread of the varicella-zoster virus to others. Once the lesions are crusted, the patient is no longer contagious.

Choice B rationale:

Choice B reflects an understanding of the treatment regimen for latent TB infection (LTBI) Chemoprophylaxis is the treatment of choice for LTBI to prevent the development of active TB disease. The most common medication used for chemoprophylaxis is isoniazid (INH) While taking the medication, it is essential for the client to monitor for any adverse effects that may occur, such as hepatotoxicity. Regular follow-ups and liver function tests may be necessary during treatment. Additionally, monitoring for drug resistance is crucial to ensure that the medication remains effective in preventing active TB. Choices A and D are incorrect statements. Chemoprophylaxis requires taking the medication for an extended period, usually six to nine months, not just a few days. Choice C is also incorrect; chemoprophylaxis is often recommended for close contacts of active TB cases to prevent the progression to active disease. Choice C seems to confuse chemoprophylaxis (preventing progression from LTBI to active TB) with post-exposure prophylaxis (given to prevent initial infection after exposure to active TB)