Question

A nurse has admitted a client with a diagnosis of tuberculosis (TB) to the nursing unit. Which finding that confirms the diagnosis does the nurse expect to see documented in the client's record?

a) Positive Mantoux test result
b) Elevated white blood cell count
c) Clear chest X-ray
d) Absence of cough and sputum

Answer 1

Documenting a positive Mantoux test result is what a nurse would expect to confirm a diagnosis of tuberculosis in a patient's record.

Step-by-step explanation:

A nurse admitting a client with a diagnosis of tuberculosis (TB) would expect to see a positive Mantoux test result documented in the client's record. The Mantoux test involves injecting bacterial proteins from Mycobacterium tuberculosis into the skin and observing for a raised, red induration as a result of cellular infiltration by activated macrophages. This positive result would indicate that the patient has been exposed to the TB bacteria and exhibits a cellular immune response to it, which confirms exposure and supports a diagnosis of TB.