The nurse posts a sign limiting visitors on the door of a hospitalized client receiving high-dose intravenous corticosteroids. When the family inquires why visitors are limited, the nurse's best response would be:

Question

1. "Visitors are not required to wash their hands when they enter the room."
2. "The germs of the client put all visitors at risk for infection."
3. "The client is very sick, and needs rest."
4. "The germs of visitors put the client at risk for infection."

Answer 1

Correct Answer: 4
Rationale 1: Visitors should be encouraged to wash their hands upon entering and exiting client rooms.
Rationale 2: This is not why visitors are limited with this client.
Rationale 3: This answer choice does not effectively teach the family the rationale for the limitations.
Rationale 4: Corticosteroids suppress the immune response. Visitors, in particular visitors who are ill, should be limited at this time.
Global Rationale: Corticosteroids suppress the immune response. Visitors, in particular visitors who are ill, should be limited at this time. Visitors should be encouraged to wash their hands upon entering and exiting client rooms. The greatest concern is for the health of the patient, not the visitors. The client may need rest, but this is not the problem being addressed by this sign.