A nurse is reviewing transmission precautions with an assistive personnel (AP) who is providing care for a client who has a Clostridium difficile infection. Which of the following statements by the AP indicates an understanding of the teaching?

Choice A rationale:

In the "background" portion of the SBAR communication tool, the nurse should include the client's present condition. This information provides the provider with context and a clear understanding of the client's current status. It helps the provider to have a baseline understanding before moving on to the assessment and recommendation stages of the communication. Including the client's present condition allows the provider to quickly grasp the urgency and severity of the situation, enabling them to make informed decisions regarding the client's care.

Choice B rationale:

Suggestions for the provider regarding client care are typically included in the "assessment" or "recommendation" portions of the SBAR communication tool, rather than the "background" portion. The "background" portion is focused on providing information about the current situation and the client's present condition, setting the stage for the rest of the communication.

Choice C rationale:

Physical findings are part of the assessment and observation of the client's current condition. While important, these findings are better suited for the "assessment" portion of the SBAR communication. The nurse should summarize the physical findings in the "assessment" section after providing the context in the "background" section.

Choice D rationale:

Previous treatments are also relevant information, but they belong in the "assessment" or "background" portions of the SBAR communication tool. The nurse should provide the provider with information about the client's current condition before discussing previous treatments, as the provider needs to know the current situation before considering the relevance of past interventions.

Choice A rationale:

The walking gait test is used to assess a client's walking pattern and balance, particularly for identifying abnormalities in gait. However, it doesn't specifically evaluate sensory functions, making it an inappropriate choice for this scenario.

Choice B rationale:

The plantar reflex test, also known as the Babinski reflex test, assesses the neurological integrity of the corticospinal tract. It involves stimulating the sole of the foot to elicit specific reflex movements. While this test is important in assessing neurological function, it doesn't directly evaluate sensory functions as requested in the question.

Choice C rationale:

The finger-to-nose test is a part of the neurological examination used to assess a client's coordination and proprioception. In this test, the client is asked to touch their nose with their index finger while alternating between eyes closed and eyes open. This evaluates their ability to sense the position of their limbs in space (proprioception) and their coordination. It directly addresses the focus of the question, making it the correct choice.

Choice D rationale:

The Romberg test evaluates a client's balance and proprioception. It involves having the client stand with their feet together and their eyes closed to assess their ability to maintain balance without visual input. While this test is relevant to sensory functions, it primarily assesses proprioception and balance rather than coordination, which the question is specifically targeting.