A nurse on a medical-surgical unit is caring for a client who has HIV and a white blood cell count of 1,500/mm. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?

This scenario involves a client with HIV and severe neutropenia, with a white blood cell count of 1500/mm, well below the normal range of 5000 to 10000/mm. Knowledge of protective isolation and infection control must be applied to prevent life-threatening infections. Choice A rationale Inspecting mucous membranes daily is a monitoring action rather than a primary preventative intervention. While important for detecting early opportunistic infections like candidiasis, it does not actively shield the neutropenic client from environmental pathogens. Choice B rationale Placing the client in a private room is essential for protective isolation when the white blood cell count drops below normal. This direct barrier protection reduces exposure to nosocbial pathogens carried by roommates or visitors. Choice C rationale Observing intravenous sites every 8 hours is insufficient for a severely immunocompromised client. Neutropenic clients require more frequent assessments, at least every 4 hours, because they may not manifest classic inflammatory signs like redness or swelling. Choice D rationale A high-fat diet does not address the immediate immunological vulnerability caused by a low white blood cell count. Dietary services should instead provide a high-calorie, high-protein, low-microbial diet to support immune defenses..