Final answer:
Pertussis, also known as whooping cough, is transmitted by airborne droplets when an infected person coughs or sneezes.
Step-by-step explanation:
The nurse should include in the teaching that pertussis is transmitted by airborne droplets. Pertussis, also known as whooping cough, is caused by Bordetella pertussis, a gram-negative coccobacillus. Transmission occurs when an infected person coughs or sneezes, releasing respiratory droplets that contain the bacteria into the air. These droplets can then be inhaled by nearby individuals, leading to new infections. This mode of transmission is very efficient and makes pertussis highly communicable among susceptible populations, especially infants and children.