Question

The nurse is receiving a confused client with a draining wound onto the medical-surgical unit. Which room assignment will the nurse make?

A.) into a private room
B.) with a client with pneumonia
C.) with a client with a myocardial infarction
D.) with another client with a draining wound

Answer 1

The nurse should assign the confused client with a draining wound to a private room to prevent the spread of infection and provide appropriate care without risking the health of other patients.

Step-by-step explanation:

The nurse is receiving a confused client with a draining wound onto the medical-surgical unit. The most appropriate room assignment for this client would be A.) into a private room. This priority is based on the potential for a highly infectious condition, such as necrotizing fasciitis, which is indicated by symptoms like rapid progression of infection, gas pockets underneath the skin, and grayish coloration of the skin.

Placing the patient into a private room protects other patients from the risk of infection and also allows for more focused care for the patient's complex needs. Sharing a room with clients who have pneumonia or myocardial infarction carries an unnecessary risk for those patients as well as potential complications for the client with the draining wound. Another option, such as assigning a room with another client with a draining wound, could result in cross-contamination and worsen both clients' conditions.

Given the severity of symptoms such as a putrid smell and rapid infection progression, isolation precautions are vital to prevent the spread of infection and provide a safe environment for both the infected patient and others in the medical-surgical unit.