A client has a persistent cough, night sweats, weight loss, and a chest x-ray suspicious for tuberculosis. Which infection control action is appropriate?
1Place the client in a positive-pressure room to protect others from infection.
2Initiate standard precautions and wait for sputum culture confirmation.
3Place the client in airborne precautions and use a fit-tested N95 respirator.✓ Correct answer
4Implement contact precautions and wear a surgical mask when entering the room.
Explanation
Suspected pulmonary tuberculosis requires airborne precautions and appropriate respiratory protection, such as a fit-tested N95 respirator. Standard or contact precautions alone are insufficient. Protective positive-pressure rooms are used for selected immunocompromised clients, not infectious TB isolation.
Clinical Judgment Use the client cues, timing, labs, and safety risks to select the response that best fits Suspected tuberculosis precautions.
Memory Tip Match the strongest cue cluster to the safest nursing judgment.
KR vs US NCLEX items reward cue-based priority thinking rather than isolated recall.
Clinical Practice GuideFor Suspected tuberculosis precautions, compare the complete cue pattern with the client's current stability, ordered data, and expected nursing scope.
CautionDo not choose an action from one isolated cue when the full scenario changes priority or safety.
Tuberculosis — An airborne infection caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
Airborne Precautions — Precautions used for pathogens spread by small airborne particles.
N95 Respirator — A respirator used to reduce inhalation of airborne particles when properly fitted.