Final answer:
Pertussis, or whooping cough, is transmitted through droplet transmission when infected individuals expel respiratory droplets that others inhale.
Step-by-step explanation:
Pertussis, commonly known as whooping cough, is an infectious disease caused by the bacterium Bordetella pertussis. One of the characteristic symptoms of pertussis is a severe cough that can lead to a "whooping" sound when the patient inhales. This disease is highly communicable through droplet transmission, which means that the bacteria are spread through the expulsion of respiratory droplets when an infected person coughs or sneezes. These droplets can then be inhaled by another person, leading to a new infection. Therefore, when teaching a newly licensed nurse about infectious agents and modes of transmission, it is correct to note that pertussis is transmitted via the droplet method.