A public health nurse is developing a protocol for treatment of inhalation anthrax in the event of widespread public exposure. Which of the following information should the nurse plan to include?

A. Provide oral care to the client every 6 hr:

While oral care is important for comfort, a fixed time interval may not be sufficient. Clients near death may experience increased oral secretions, and providing oral care should be based on the individual's needs. It's more appropriate to provide oral care as needed rather than adhering strictly to a 6-hour schedule.

B. Elevate the head of the client's bed

Elevating the head of the bed can help ease breathing and reduce the sensation of breathlessness, which is a common issue for clients who are near death. This position can also prevent aspiration if the client has difficulty swallowing.

C. Turn the client every 4 hr.

Turning the client every 4 hours is important for preventing pressure ulcers, but in the context of a client who is near death, comfort measures take precedence. Frequent turning might cause unnecessary discomfort or pain.

D. Offer the client ice chips:

Offering ice chips may not be appropriate for a client near death. In the final stages of life, maintaining comfort is crucial, and ice chips may not contribute positively to the overall comfort of the client. Hydration and nutritional needs are often reassessed in the context of end-of-life care, and other comfort measures may be prioritized over offering ice chips.

A. Airborne precautions.

Explanation: Tuberculosis is primarily transmitted through the airborne route when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or talks, releasing droplets containing the bacteria into the air. Airborne precautions are designed to prevent the transmission of infectious agents that remain suspended in the air for long periods. This includes the use of specialized respiratory protection (such as N95 respirators) and placing the client in a negative pressure room.

B. Contact precautions.

Explanation: Contact precautions are used for diseases that are spread through direct or indirect contact with the patient or their environment. Tuberculosis is primarily an airborne disease, and contact precautions are not the most effective preventive measure.

C. Protective environment.

Explanation: Protective environment is typically used for immunocompromised patients, and it focuses on protecting the patient from environmental pathogens. It is not specifically indicated for preventing the transmission of tuberculosis.

D. Droplet precautions.

Explanation: Droplet precautions are used for diseases transmitted through respiratory droplets, but they are not the primary precautions for tuberculosis. Tuberculosis requires airborne precautions due to the smaller size and longer suspension time of the infectious particles.