In the case of a client with influenza, which standard precaution should the PN always follow?

Using a surgical mask when entering the room of a client with influenza is critical because influenza is a viral respiratory infection that spreads through droplets when an infected person talks, coughs, or sneezes. By wearing a surgical mask, the practical nurse minimizes the risk of inhaling these infectious droplets, thereby protecting both themselves and others from potential transmission.

This precaution aligns with the CDC's infection control guidelines which emphasize the importance of masks in preventing airborne transmission of respiratory pathogens. Other measures, while important in their own right, do not specifically address direct respiratory droplet transmission as effectively as wearing a mask does in this scenario. For instance, while placing a client in a private room can reduce exposure, it does not provide direct protection to the nurse when attending to the patient.