Final answer:
The most effective measure to protect nursing staff is by limiting the time spent near the client with a radiation implant. While lead aprons and gloves provide shielding, reducing time exposure is key, and increasing ventilation does not significantly protect against radiation.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the context of protecting nursing staff from harmful exposure to radiation when caring for a client with a radiation implant, the most effective measure is limiting the time spent near the client. The principles of radiation protection include time, distance, and shielding. Limiting time reduces the duration of exposure, keeping a safe distance utilizes the inverse square law to reduce exposure intensity, and shielding with materials like lead can absorb radiation to minimize exposure. However, among these, time is often the most controllable factor in a clinical setting.
While wearing lead aprons and gloves provides a layer of protection by absorbing radiation, it does not reduce the overall exposure to radiation that comes from being close to the source. The effectiveness of increasing ventilation to reduce radiation exposure is negligible since radiation is not akin to a gas or particulate that can be easily ventilated away. Ultimately, spending the least amount of necessary time near the radiation source is crucial in reducing the cumulative radiation dose received by the nursing staff.