Question

The nurse is caring for a patient with HIV who is known to have infected others due to unsafe sexual practices. What is the nurse's priority action to advocate for this client and others with whom he may have a relationship?

A) Teach the patient of the increased risk to his own health from sexually transmitted diseases.
B) Inform the patient that he can be sued or arrested for endangering the health of others.
C) Explore the patient's knowledge of safer sexual practices and help him find methods that work for him.
D) Report his behavior to the public health department for follow-up as needed.

Answer 1

The nurse's priority action to advocate for the client and others with whom he may have a relationship is to report his behavior to the public health department for follow-up as needed. This action is necessary to prevent further transmission of HIV.

Step-by-step explanation:

The nurse's priority action to advocate for the client and others with whom he may have a relationship is D) Report his behavior to the public health department for follow-up as needed. By reporting the client's unsafe sexual practices, the nurse can ensure that appropriate measures are taken to prevent further transmission of HIV. This action is necessary to protect the health and well-being of the client and the community.

Reporting the behavior allows public health officials to trace and notify sexual partners who may be at risk of infection. It also enables the implementation of interventions such as counseling, testing, and treatment, which can help reduce the spread of HIV and promote safer sexual practices.

While educating the patient about the increased risk to his own health from sexually transmitted diseases (option A) and exploring the patient's knowledge of safer sexual practices (option C) are important aspects of care, reporting the behavior takes precedence in this situation to ensure the safety of others.