A patient wants to know why he developed an infection after being cut on the leg with a piece of wood, but his friend who was also cut did not. How should the nurse explain this phenomenon?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The nurse should explain that the patient's body may have been more susceptible to infection from the organism introduced by the wood, while his friend's body was able to fight off the infection more effectively. This could be due to differences in immune function, overall health, or other factors. Simply stating that the friend's cut was not dirty or that the patient has an autoimmune disorder does not fully address the patient's question. Similarly, stating that the friend will inevitably develop an infection is not necessarily true and may cause unnecessary anxiety for the patient.

A Patient Wants to Know Why He Developed an Infection