A patient has arrived at the emergency department reporting intermittent fever and night sweats for the past three weeks and has developed a cough that is productive with small amounts of blood. What should be the nurse’s priority intervention?

Choice A rationale Obtaining a sputum sample is important for diagnosing respiratory infections, but it is not the priority intervention in this case. The patient’s symptoms of intermittent fever, night sweats, and a productive cough with small amounts of blood are indicative of a possible airborne disease such as tuberculosis. Choice B rationale Arranging transport for radiographic imaging can be helpful in diagnosing the patient’s condition, but it is not the immediate priority. The primary concern should be to prevent the potential spread of an airborne disease. Choice C rationale Moving the patient into airborne isolation is the priority intervention. This action is taken to prevent the spread of potential airborne diseases to other patients and healthcare workers. Choice D rationale Collecting specimens for blood cultures can help identify the causative organism if the patient has a systemic infection. However, given the patient’s symptoms and the potential for an airborne disease, moving the patient into isolation is the priority.