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Chronic illness: Chronic illnesses develop slowly, persist for a long time (often > 6 months), and can be lifelong (e.g., diabetes, hypertension). This does not describe a sudden, short illness.

Communicable illness: Communicable means an illness that can spread from person to person (e.g., tuberculosis, influenza), but it does not necessarily describe the duration or onset.

Secondary illness: A secondary illness arises as a complication of a primary illness (e.g., pneumonia following influenza). This does not describe a short, self-limiting condition.

Ask for a referral for the client to be declared incompetent: Incompetence cannot be assumed simply because a client refuses treatment. This requires a legal process and psychiatric evaluation. Not appropriate here.

Have security personnel stationed outside the client’s room to prevent the client from leaving: This violates the client’s legal rights and constitutes false imprisonment. Not ethical or legal.

Request the health care provider to prescribe a medication that would sedate the client: Forcing sedation without consent violates autonomy and could be assault.

Using soap and water to wash hands only if hands are soiled: With C. diff, handwashing with soap and water is required regardless of visible soiling because alcohol-based sanitizers are ineffective against spores.

Using hand sanitizer to wash hands: Alcohol-based sanitizers are not effective against spore-forming organisms like C. diff.

Using either hand sanitizer or soap and water to wash hands: For routine cases either is acceptable, but not for C. diff. Only soap and water are effective.

"I know what you mean; you need an antibiotic.": Provides false reassurance and disregards evidence-based practice.

"Let me talk to the health care provider and see what we can do.": Incorrect; undermines client teaching and implies the nurse may push for unnecessary antibiotics.

"Why do you think you need an antibiotic?": Open-ended but not the most therapeutic response here; it deflects instead of providing factual teaching.

Battery: Battery is intentional, unauthorized touching. No touching occurred.

Fraud: Fraud is intentional deception for gain; not applicable here.

Assault: Assault is threatening or causing fear of harm; not the case here.

Nosocomial: Refers to hospital-acquired infections, not level of care/placement.

Secondary: Specialist/acute hospital care level; not long-term placement.

Tertiary: Highly specialized inpatient care (e.g., ICU, transplant centers), not LTC.

Infectious microorganism: The agent itself; not a body tract/portal.

Vehicle of transmission: Means of spread (hands, droplets, fomites), not the portal.

Susceptible host: Vulnerability of the host; not a body tract focus.

“We only wash our hands when they are visibly soiled.” Oversimplified/incorrect; soap & water also required in situations like C. diff, after restroom use, before eating.

“I will not be touching you, so using the alcohol hand rub is the quickest method to perform hand hygiene.” Hand hygiene is still expected upon room entry/exit and before any potential contact; also dismissive.

“Washing the hands with soap and water is not necessary.” Too absolute; soap & water are necessary in specific scenarios (e.g., C. diff, visible soil).

Deficient knowledge: Educational need is lower priority than immediate safety risk.

Ineffective breathing pattern: Physiologic needs are top priority if present, but there’s no evidence of respiratory compromise here.

Ineffective coping: Psychosocial; not supported by data and lower priority than immediate safety.