Question

The charge nurse is assigning rooms for 4 new pts. Only one private room is available on the oncology unit. Which pt should be placed in the private room? Who cannot enter this room?

Answer 1

The oncology patient with the most significant need for protective isolation, likely due to a compromised immune system from chemotherapy, should be placed in the private room. Visitors or healthcare workers with potential infections should not enter to minimize infection risk.

Step-by-step explanation:

In determining which patient should be placed in the private room on the oncology unit, the charge nurse must consider the patients' medical conditions and the need for isolation to prevent infection or to control the spread of infection. A patient with a condition requiring protective isolation, such as a compromised immune system due to chemotherapy for cancer, would be the most appropriate choice for the private room. This is because a private room can help protect them from hospital-acquired infections and other patients' illnesses. Additionally, it would be crucial to ensure that individuals who may be carrying infectious agents, such as visitors with a cold or healthcare workers who have not properly donned personal protective equipment (PPE), do not enter this patient's room to prevent potential transmission of pathogens.