A nurse is planning care for a client who is receiving internal brachytherapy. Which of the following interventions should the nurse include in the plan of care?

Nursing care for a client receiving internal brachytherapy focuses on radiation safety, minimizing exposure to staff and visitors, and maintaining proper handling of the radioactive source. Brachytherapy involves placing a sealed radiation source directly into or near a tumor to deliver localized treatment. Because the source emits ionizing radiation, strict safety protocols, time, distance, and shielding are required. Nurses must be prepared to respond safely if the radioactive source becomes displaced. Rationale: A. Disposing of the radioactive source in the client’s trash can is incorrect because radioactive materials must never be discarded in regular waste. The source must be handled using radiation safety protocols and placed in a lead container until retrieved by the radiation safety team. Improper disposal poses serious radiation exposure risks to staff and the environment. B. Placing the client in a negative pressure room is not appropriate because brachytherapy does not involve airborne infection transmission. Negative pressure rooms are used for infectious diseases requiring airborne precautions, not radiation safety. Instead, radiation precautions such as private rooms with shielding and limited exposure time are required. C. Using long-handled forceps if the radioactive source is dislodged is appropriate because it allows the nurse to maintain distance from the radiation source while safely retrieving it. This reduces exposure by increasing distance and minimizing direct contact time. The source should then be placed in a lead container and reported immediately to radiation safety personnel. D. Limiting each visitor to 1 hour per day is not the standard precaution for brachytherapy clients. Visitor restrictions are based on time, distance, and shielding principles, but exposure limits are typically stricter and individualized. Visitors are often limited in duration and must maintain distance, but specific time allowances vary depending on institutional radiation safety guidelines.