Question

a charge nurse is teaching a newly licensed nurse about the care of a client who has methicillin - resistant staphylococcus aureus (mrsa). which of the following statements should the charge nurse identify as an indication that the newly licensed nurse understands the teaching?
a \i should obtain a specimen for culture and sensitivity after the first dose of an antimicrobial.\
b \mrsa is usually resistant to vancomycin, so another antimicrobial will be prescribed.\
c \i will protect others from exposure when i transport the client outside the room.\
d \to decrease resistance, antimicrobial therapy is discontinued when the client is no longer febrile.\

Explanation:

• Option A: Specimen for culture and sensitivity should be obtained before starting antimicrobial therapy, not after the first dose. So this statement is incorrect.
• Option B: MRSA is usually susceptible to vancomycin (it is a drug of choice for MRSA in many cases), not resistant. So this statement is wrong.
• Option C: When transporting a client with MRSA outside the room, protecting others from exposure (e.g., covering the infected site if possible) is a correct practice as MRSA is contagious. This shows understanding of infection control.
• Option D: Antimicrobial therapy for MRSA should be completed for the full prescribed course (usually based on clinical improvement, source control, etc., not just absence of fever). Discontinuing too early can lead to relapse and increased resistance. So this statement is incorrect.

Answer:

C. "I will protect others from exposure when I transport the client outside the room."