A nurse caring for a client with MRSA should implement which precaution?

A nurse caring for a client with MRSA should implement which precaution?

• A. Dispose of all bed linens used by the client
• B. Wear a gown when in the client's room
• C. Wear a mask when providing care
• D. Place the client in a semi-private room

Answer: (B)

MRSA spreads mainly through direct and indirect contact, so protecting yourself with contact precautions is essential. Wearing a gown when you enter the client’s room creates a barrier between your clothing and any contaminated surfaces or secretions, helping prevent transmission to you and to other patients. This barrier, typically used with gloves and strict hand hygiene, directly tackles the main way MRSA spreads in a health-care setting. The other options don’t address the primary transmission route: masks are for protecting against respiratory droplets, not MRSA transmission via contact; placing the client in a semi-private room isn’t a precaution by itself when MRSA is present (private room is preferred when possible, but the key action is using contact precautions); and handling linens properly is important, but MRSA prevention centers on barrier protection (gloves and gown) to stop contact transmission.

MRSA spreads mainly through direct and indirect contact, so protecting yourself with contact precautions is essential. Wearing a gown when you enter the client’s room creates a barrier between your clothing and any contaminated surfaces or secretions, helping prevent transmission to you and to other patients. This barrier, typically used with gloves and strict hand hygiene, directly tackles the main way MRSA spreads in a health-care setting.

The other options don’t address the primary transmission route: masks are for protecting against respiratory droplets, not MRSA transmission via contact; placing the client in a semi-private room isn’t a precaution by itself when MRSA is present (private room is preferred when possible, but the key action is using contact precautions); and handling linens properly is important, but MRSA prevention centers on barrier protection (gloves and gown) to stop contact transmission.