The nurse determines that an older-adult patient is at risk for infection due to decreased immunity. Which plan of care best addresses the prevention of infection for the patient?
A) Inform the patient of the importance of finishing the entire dose of antibiotics.
B) Encourage the patient to stay up-to-date on all vaccinations.
C) Schedule patient to get annual tuberculosis skin testing.
D) Create an exercise routine to run 45 minutes every day.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

A nursing care plan for preventative health measures should be reasonable and feasible. Keeping up-to-date on vaccinations is important because vaccine reduces the severity of illnesses and serious complications. Determine if and when the patient has had a pneumococcal or influenza (flu) vaccine. This is especially important when assessing older adults because of their increased risk for respiratory disease. Although it is important to finish the full course of antibiotics, it is not a preventative health measure. Scheduling annual tuberculosis skin tests does not address prevention and is an unreliable indictor of tuberculosis in older patients. The exercise routine should be reasonable to increase compliance; exercise is recommended only 3 to 4 times a week for 30 to 60 minutes, and walking, rather than running, is an efficient method.

The Nurse Determines That an Older-Adult Patient Is at Risk