Which client assignment should a pregnant nurse avoid?

Which client assignment should a pregnant nurse avoid?

• A. 2-year-old client who is combative after surgery
• B. 5-year-old client for dehydration due to group A Streptococcus
• C. 9-year-old client with parvovirus B-19 infection
• D. 14-year-old client with acute lymphocytic leukemia

Answer: (C)

The assignment that the pregnant nurse should avoid is the client with parvovirus B-19 infection. This choice is significant because parvovirus B-19 can pose serious risks to the fetus, especially during the first and second trimesters of pregnancy. If a pregnant nurse is exposed to the virus, it could lead to complications such as fetal anemia, miscarriage, or other developmental issues. In contrast, the other clients listed, while they may present their own challenges, do not carry the same risks of fetal harm associated with parvovirus B-19. The 2-year-old client who is combative may present a safety issue but doesn’t involve infectious disease exposure that specifically impacts pregnancy. The 5-year-old with dehydration due to a bacterial infection and the 14-year-old with acute lymphocytic leukemia are also manageable assignments without direct risks to the pregnancy. Thus, due to the specific risks of parvovirus B-19 to the developing fetus, this assignment is the one the pregnant nurse should avoid.

The assignment that the pregnant nurse should avoid is the client with parvovirus B-19 infection. This choice is significant because parvovirus B-19 can pose serious risks to the fetus, especially during the first and second trimesters of pregnancy. If a pregnant nurse is exposed to the virus, it could lead to complications such as fetal anemia, miscarriage, or other developmental issues.

In contrast, the other clients listed, while they may present their own challenges, do not carry the same risks of fetal harm associated with parvovirus B-19. The 2-year-old client who is combative may present a safety issue but doesn’t involve infectious disease exposure that specifically impacts pregnancy. The 5-year-old with dehydration due to a bacterial infection and the 14-year-old with acute lymphocytic leukemia are also manageable assignments without direct risks to the pregnancy. Thus, due to the specific risks of parvovirus B-19 to the developing fetus, this assignment is the one the pregnant nurse should avoid.