Question

A nurse is caring for a client who has anorexia, low-grade fever, night sweats, and a productive cough. Which of the following actions should the nurse take first?

a) Administer an antipyretic medication.
b) Initiate airborne precautions.
c) Obtain a sputum culture.
d) Assess the client's nutritional status.

Answer 1

The nurse should first initiate airborne precautions to prevent the potential spread of an infectious disease, such as tuberculosis, indicated by the patient's symptoms.

Step-by-step explanation:

A nurse caring for a client with symptoms including anorexia, low-grade fever, night sweats, and a productive cough should prioritize actions based on the potential severity and communicability of the condition. Given that these symptoms can be indicative of tuberculosis (TB), which is highly infectious and can be spread through airborne particles, the nurse's first action should be to initiate airborne precautions. This is to prevent the spread of the disease to others and protect public health. Subsequent actions should include obtaining a sputum culture to confirm the diagnosis and beginning appropriate treatment based on the results.