Question

The home care nurse is instructing a patient recently diagnosed with TB. It is MOST important for the nurse to include which of the following as a part of the teaching plan?

1) How to properly take the prescribed medications
2) How to prevent the spread of TB to others
3) How to manage symptoms of TB
4) How to maintain a healthy lifestyle

Answer 1

The nurse should prioritize teaching a TB patient how to prevent spreading the disease, which involves staying home, practising cough hygiene, wearing masks, and adhering to medication regimens to ensure full recovery and prevent antibiotic resistance.

Step-by-step explanation:

It is most important for a nurse to educate a patient diagnosed with TB on how to prevent the spread of the disease to others. Tuberculosis is an infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, which is spread through the air when infected individuals cough, sneeze, or spit. To control the spread of TB, patients should be advised to stay home as much as possible, isolate themselves if they can, wear respiratory masks, and follow cough hygiene by covering their mouth and nose with a tissue when they cough or sneeze. They should also be instructed on the importance of adherence to their prescribed medication regimen which often involves taking antibiotics for a prolonged period, even after symptoms have abated, to ensure complete eradication of the infection and to prevent the development of antibiotic resistance. Educating patients on directly observed therapy (DOT) may also be a part of the teaching plan, as it has been proven effective in ensuring compliance with the treatment regimen.