A nurse is caring for a client who has influenza. Which of the following personal protective equipment (PPE) should the nurse instruct the client to wear?

Choice A rationale Gloves are part of standard precautions and are used when there is potential contact with blood or body fluids. While influenza can be found in respiratory secretions, the primary mode of transmission is through droplets expelled during coughing or sneezing. Gloves do not protect the environment or other people from the droplets the client produces. While the nurse wears gloves for care, the client specifically needs a barrier that contains their own respiratory emissions at the source. Choice B rationale Goggles are used by healthcare workers to protect their mucous membranes from splashes or sprays of infectious material. They are not required for a client with influenza. The goal for the client is to prevent the dispersal of virus-laden droplets into the air. Goggles provide no benefit in containing the client's cough or sneeze. Therefore, instructing the client to wear goggles would be an incorrect application of personal protective equipment for droplet-borne illnesses like the flu. Choice C rationale Influenza is primarily transmitted through large respiratory droplets. When a client with influenza must leave their room or is in close proximity to others, they should wear a surgical mask. The mask acts as source control, capturing droplets before they become airborne or land on surfaces. This is a standard component of droplet precautions. It prevents the spread of the virus to healthcare workers and other patients, making it the most appropriate PPE for the client. Choice D rationale Gowns are used to protect the healthcare worker's clothing from contamination with infectious material during direct patient care. There is no clinical indication for a client with influenza to wear a gown as a form of personal protective equipment. The gown does not prevent the respiratory transmission of the virus. The focus must remain on containing respiratory secretions, which is achieved through the use of a mask and proper cough etiquette, rather than body covering.