Question

The nurse is caring for a client who has a sealed radiation implant for cervical cancer. Which activities by the nurse are appropriate?

1) Inform the supervisor of the nurse's positive pregnancy test.
2) Obtain the dosimeter badge from the nurse going off shift.
3) Keep the client's door open for frequent observation.
4)ispose of dirty linen in a red 'biohazard' bag.
5) Wear a lead apron while providing client care.

Answer 1

Appropriate nursing activities for a client with a radiation implant include informing the supervisor if the nurse is pregnant, using a dosimeter badge to monitor radiation exposure, and wearing a lead apron for protection. Open doors and biohazard disposal of linen are not relevant to radiation safety.

Step-by-step explanation:

The nurse's activities when caring for a client with a sealed radiation implant for cervical cancer should include appropriate radiation protection measures. This includes:

1. Informing the supervisor of the nurse's positive pregnancy test, due to the increased risk to the fetus from radiation exposure.
2. Obtaining the dosimeter badge from the nurse going off shift to monitor radiation exposure.
3. Wearing a lead apron while providing client care to minimize radiation exposure.

Keeping the client's door open is not appropriate, as it may expose others to radiation. Similarly, disposing of dirty linen in a red 'biohazard' bag is unrelated to radiation safety and is instead a protocol for managing infectious waste. The essential principles of radiation safety include limiting time of exposure, maximizing distance from the source, and using proper shielding.