HESI Registered Nurse EXIT Practice Exam

What is the appropriate response from a home health nurse regarding visitor precautions for a client on contact precautions?

1. Visitors must wear a mask and a gown

2. There are no special requirements for visitors of clients on contact precautions

3. Visitors should wash their hands before and after touching the client

4. Visitors can come without any restrictions

The correct answer is: Visitors should wash their hands before and after touching the client

The appropriate response regarding visitor precautions for a client on contact precautions emphasizes the critical role of hand hygiene in preventing the spread of infections. Visitors are expected to wash their hands before and after interacting with the patient to minimize the risk of transferring pathogens. This practice is specifically vital in settings where infections may be easily transmitted through direct or indirect contact with contaminated surfaces or the patient themselves. While wearing masks and gowns may be relevant in certain situations, such as airborne or droplet precautions, contact precautions specifically require a focus on hand hygiene. Therefore, stating that visitors should practice hand washing captures the essence of proper precautions for minimizing infection transmission in this context. This approach fosters a safe environment for both the client and the visitors, ensuring that the risk of infection is kept at bay. The other options do not adequately address the fundamental requirement of hand hygiene in contact precautions, which is a key practice for infection control in a home health setting.