A charge nurse is creating assignments for the next shift for several nurses and one of the nurses is pregnant. Which of the following clients should the charge nurse assign to a nurse who is not pregnant?
Explanation & Rationale
Rationale: A. A client who has alcoholic pancreatitis: Alcoholic pancreatitis does not pose a risk of teratogenicity or infectious transmission to a pregnant nurse. Standard precautions are sufficient, making this assignment safe for a pregnant nurse. B. A client who has latent tuberculosis: Latent TB is not contagious, as the bacteria are inactive and the client cannot transmit the infection. A pregnant nurse can safely care for this client with standard precautions without increased risk. C. A client who is recovering from shingles: Shingles (herpes zoster) is caused by reactivation of the varicella-zoster virus and can be transmitted via direct contact with lesions. Pregnant nurses who have not had chickenpox or the varicella vaccine are at risk for serious complications, so this client should be assigned to a non-pregnant nurse. D. A client who has HIV: HIV is transmitted through blood and body fluids, and standard precautions effectively protect healthcare workers. There is no contraindication for a pregnant nurse to care for a client with HIV using proper infection control measures.