Question

Four clients are admitted to a medical unit. If only one private room is available, it should be assigned to:

The client with ulcerative colitis
The client with neutropenia
The client with cholecystitis
The client with polycythemia vera

Answer 1

The private room should be given to the client with neutropenia as they are at the highest risk for infection due to their greatly compromised immune system.

Step-by-step explanation:

If a medical unit has one private room available and needs to determine which of four different clients should be assigned the room, the priority should be given to the client at the highest risk for complications due to a compromised immune system. Among clients with ulcerative colitis, cholecystitis, polycythemia vera, and neutropenia, it's the client with neutropenia who is most at risk. Neutropenia, a condition characterized by an abnormally low count of neutrophils, a type of white blood cell, greatly increases a person's susceptibility to infection.

Clients with systemic disorders such as diabetes mellitus, malnutrition, hepatitis, or HIV infection might also have diminished immune function and may receive immunosuppressive treatments like cytotoxic chemotherapy, which further increases their risks. Furthermore, conditions such as recent surgical interventions or other critical illnesses, especially in vulnerable populations like the very young or elderly, could necessitate the use of a private room to minimize the risk of nosocomial (hospital-acquired) infections.