Final answer:
Tuberculosis is primarily transmitted through airborne droplets when a person with the disease coughs, sneezes, or spits. This mode of transmission distinguishes it from direct contact, foodborne, and vector-borne diseases, highlighting the need for precautions to prevent airborne transmission in healthcare settings.
Step-by-step explanation:
The nurse should include in the teaching that tuberculosis is transmitted by airborne droplets. When a person with tuberculosis coughs, sneezes, or spits, they expel droplet nuclei containing tubercle bacilli into the air. These bacilli can be inhaled by others, entering the lungs and travelling to the alveoli, initiating a new infection in the new host. This is different from direct contact, foodborne, and vector-borne modes of transmission. Tuberculosis is highly contagious and mainly spread through the air, making it essential for healthcare providers to understand and take appropriate precautions to prevent its spread.