A client is admitted with suspected pulmonary tuberculosis. Which precautions should the nurse implement?

A. Airborne precautions in a negative-pressure room with an N95 respirator
B. Contact precautions with a gown and gloves
C. Droplet precautions with a surgical mask
D. Standard precautions only until sputum results return

Show answer and rationale

Correct answer: A

TB spreads by airborne droplet nuclei. Clients need an airborne infection isolation (negative-pressure) room, and staff wear a fit-tested N95 or higher respirator. Precautions start on suspicion, not after confirmation.

Source: CDC. 2007 Guideline for Isolation Precautions; CDC TB Infection Control (2005)

Keep practicing Safety and Infection Prevention and Control

This question is one of 163 Safety and Infection Prevention and Control items in NCLEXSim. On the NCLEX-RN, this category makes up 10–16% of the exam.

Practice more Safety and Infection Prevention and Control questions free Create a free account

Study tip

Memorize isolation by organism: airborne (TB, measles, varicella), droplet (influenza, pertussis, mumps, meningococcus), contact (C. difficile, MRSA, scabies, RSV).
Drill the PPE sequences: on is gown, mask, eyewear, gloves; off is gloves, eyewear, gown, mask, then hand hygiene.

More free Safety and Infection Prevention and Control questions

Practice the way the NCLEX tests you

1,059 fact-checked questions, a full adaptive exam that stops by the real rules, a proctored test-day mode with an integrity report, 8 NGN case studies, bedside simulations, and ACLS megacodes. Free.

Take the free adaptive exam Rehearse test day