Final answer:
The nurse 10 weeks pregnant should avoid patient assignments with potential exposure to communicable diseases due to downregulated immunity and increased risk to the fetus. Safe assignments include patients with chronic stable conditions or routine outpatient care.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question pertains to a nurse who is 10 weeks pregnant and needs to determine which client assignments would be appropriate for her given the stage of her pregnancy. It is crucial for pregnant health-care providers to avoid exposure to illnesses that could harm them or their unborn child. In general, pregnant health-care workers should avoid assignments with patients who have communicable diseases or are under isolation precautions, due to the heightened risk to the fetus from certain infections, such as those caused by Listeria monocytogenes or other pathogens that may harm prenatal development.
As the immune system is downregulated during pregnancy, this increases vulnerability to infections. However, not all patient assignments pose the same risks. The nurse could be assigned to patient care areas that primarily serve clients whose conditions pose minimal risk to the nurse or her baby. This could include routine outpatient care, patients with chronic stable conditions, or administrative tasks that still contribute to patient care but limit direct exposure to infectious diseases.