Final answer:
The appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) for a nurse entering the room of a patient with MRSA in an abdominal wound is a gown and gloves. This is because MRSA is spread through direct contact, and additional PPE like a surgical mask or eye protection is not required unless there is potential for splashing of bodily fluids.
Step-by-step explanation:
A nurse who is preparing to care for a client with a Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection in an abdominal wound needs to wear appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE). The correct PPE to don in this scenario includes a gown and gloves. Based on the guidelines for preventing the transmission of MRSA in healthcare settings, since MRSA is primarily transmitted through direct contact and not airborne transmission, a surgical mask and eye protection are not routinely required unless there is a risk for splashing of bodily fluids. Therefore, the correct PPE would be option C) Gown and gloves only. Medical personnel are advised to follow strict protocols when interacting with infected patients, such as stringent hand hygiene and disinfection of all items that make contact with the infected area. These precautions aid in preventing the spread of MRSA within healthcare environments where immunocompromised patients may be more susceptible to infection.