A patient is concerned about receiving the varicella vaccine due to possible side effects. What should the nurse explain about the vaccine?

Choice A rationale:

Monitoring vital signs, fluid intake, and output is important for assessing the client's overall health and hydration status, but it does not specifically address preventing the transmission of the virus.

Choice B rationale:

Providing comfort measures like cool compresses and loose clothing can help alleviate symptoms and discomfort, but it does not directly address preventing the transmission of the virus.

Choice C rationale:

Encouraging oral hygiene and a soft diet is essential for managing the client's symptoms and promoting healing, but it does not focus on preventing the spread of the virus to others.

Choice D rationale:

Isolating the patient until all lesions are crusted over is a crucial nursing intervention to prevent transmission of the chickenpox virus. Chickenpox is highly contagious, primarily spread through respiratory droplets and contact with the fluid from the skin lesions. By isolating the patient until all lesions have crusted over, the risk of spreading the virus to others is significantly reduced.

Choice A rationale:

The nurse should not advise the patient to apply iodine, hydrogen peroxide, or alcohol to the wound. These substances can be irritating to the wound and delay the healing process.

Choice B rationale:

Cleaning and debriding the wound as soon as possible is an essential action to prevent infection and promote healing. Removing debris and foreign material from the wound reduces the risk of contamination and infection.

Choice C rationale:

Using non-sterile instruments for wound care is not appropriate. The nurse should emphasize the importance of using clean and sterile instruments to prevent introducing additional bacteria into the wound.

Choice D rationale:

Administering the Td vaccine (Tetanus and Diphtheria) for prophylaxis is a crucial action to protect the patient from tetanus, especially in contaminated wounds where tetanus spores might be present.

Choice E rationale:

Proper disposal of animal feces is crucial to avoid exposure to tetanus spores. Tetanus spores can be found in soil contaminated with animal feces and can enter the body through open wounds, leading to a serious and potentially fatal infection.