The nurse is caring for a patient diagnosed with tuberculosis in a hospital setting and must initiate airborne precautions. Which of the following is true related to airborne precautions?

Choice A reason: Using a fluorescent light source may not adequately reveal Stage I pressure ulcers in dark skin, as color changes are subtle. Natural or halogen light is preferred to detect darkening or erythema. Fluorescent light can distort pigmentation, reducing accuracy, per dermatological assessment techniques.

Choice B reason: Inspecting skin only if the Braden score indicates risk may miss early Stage I ulcers, which present as non-blanchable darkening in dark skin. Routine inspection is essential, as Braden scores predict risk but do not confirm ulcers, potentially delaying intervention, per pressure injury protocols.

Choice C reason: Avoiding touching the skin during inspection is inappropriate, as palpation detects warmth, induration, or non-blanching, key for Stage I ulcers in dark skin. Tactile assessment complements visual inspection, ensuring accurate identification of early tissue damage, per comprehensive skin assessment guidelines.

Choice D reason: Looking for skin darker than surrounding areas is the best approach for Stage I pressure ulcers in dark skin, as they present as non-blanchable hyperpigmentation rather than redness. This visual change indicates early tissue damage, guiding timely intervention to prevent progression, per pressure ulcer staging standards.

Choice A reason: Nurses’ health disparities, such as personal socioeconomic or medical challenges, are unrelated to assessing clients culturally. Cultural competence requires understanding the client’s beliefs and values, not the nurse’s personal health inequities. These disparities may affect nurse well-being but do not directly influence the ability to interpret clients’ cultural health practices or beliefs accurately.

Choice B reason: Nurses’ health history, including personal medical conditions, does not directly impact cultural assessments. Understanding clients’ cultural beliefs about health, influenced by traditions or social norms, requires self-awareness of the nurse’s own cultural biases. Personal health history may inform empathy but is irrelevant to recognizing cultural influences on client care preferences.

Choice C reason: Nurses’ educational level affects clinical knowledge but not cultural assessment directly. Cultural competence involves recognizing how the nurse’s cultural background shapes perceptions of client behaviors, like dietary preferences or treatment acceptance. Education enhances technical skills, but cultural orientation awareness is critical for avoiding biases in nurse-client interactions across diverse populations.

Choice D reason: Nurses must consider their own cultural orientation to avoid biases when assessing clients from other cultures. Cultural beliefs shape health perceptions, like attitudes toward pain or family roles in care. Self-awareness of personal cultural values, rooted in socialization, prevents misinterpretations and ensures culturally sensitive care, aligning with ethical nursing practice.