Final answer:
The home health nurse should institute contact precautions when assessing a client with suspected scabies.
Step-by-step explanation:
The precaution that the home health nurse should institute during the assessment of the client with suspected scabies is contact precautions. Contact precautions are used to prevent the transmission of microorganisms through direct or indirect contact. In the case of scabies, it is primarily spread through close, prolonged skin-to-skin contact.
When implementing contact precautions, the nurse would wear gloves and possibly a gown to protect themselves and others from potential contamination. Proper hand hygiene is crucial, including washing hands with soap and water or using hand sanitizer before and after interacting with the client.
If the nurse suspects that the client has scabies, it is essential to take appropriate precautions to prevent the spread of the infection to others.