You are the charge nurse on the pediatric unit when a pediatrician calls wanting to admit a child with rubeola (measles). Which of these factors is of most concern in determining whether to admit the child to your unit?
A. No negative-airflow rooms are available on the unit
B. The infection control nurse liaison is not on the unit today
C. There are several children receiving chemotherapy on the unit
D. The unit is not staffed with the usual number of RNs
Correct Answer: A. No negative-airflow rooms are available on the unit
Because clients with rubeola require the implementation of airborne precautions, which include placement in a negative airflow room, this child cannot be admitted to the pediatric unit. An airborne isolation room is also known as a negative pressure room. This negative pressure room is usually a single-occupancy patient-care room frequently used to isolated individuals with confirmed or suspected airborne infections. The other circumstances may require actions such as staff reassignments but would not prevent the admission of a client with rubeola.
Option B: The absence of the infection control nurse liaison should not prevent the admission of the child with rubeola. Before transferring a patient with an airborne infection, one must always communicate with the relevant department first. The earlier the airborne prevention methods are adopted, the lower the risk of transmission to other patients and healthcare staff.
Option C: The clients receiving therapy can be transferred to a different location far from the isolation room. The door to the room of the isolation area must be kept closed to maintain negative pressure even if the client is not in the room. The windows in the room should remain closed at all times; opening the window may cause the reversal of airflow, which counters the benefits of a negative pressure room.
Option D: Only healthcare providers immunized to the organism in question should enter a room where airborne precautions are in place for varicella or measles. A respirator is not necessary for immunized individuals but is required for non-immunized workers who provide care.