You notice a patient in your care has symptoms of a respiratory infection. What should you do FIRST?

Question

Accepted Answer

Notify the nurse and follow facility protocol for isolation. The first action should be to notify the nurse and follow facility protocol, as only authorized personnel can implement isolation precautions. You should not attempt to isolate a patient independently. While PPE will likely be needed, the nurse must assess the situation first. Standard precautions alone may be insufficient for respiratory symptoms.