Brunner & Suddarth's Textbook of Medical-Surgical Nursing 13th Edition by Kerry Cheever, Janice Hinkle

Exercise 1

While you are working the night shift, a 56-year-old homeless man withdiabetes is admitted to your unit for an infected foot ulcer.You note that he isdiaphoretic and has a persistent cough as you are taking his vital signs, which arenormal except for a temperature of 38°C (100.4°F). You ask him if he usually sweatsat night, and he states, "only for the past couple of months." He says his cough beganaround the same time as his night sweats and that he occasionally produces sputumthat is tannish-green with streaks of red. What other priority assessments might youconsider for this patient? What respiratory diseases may he be at risk for, and whichare most consistent with his clinical manifestations? Are these communicablediseases? If so, what type of precautions should you take, both for him and for you?What kind of follow-up would be necessary those he has come in contact with insideand outside of the hospital?