ATI Medsurg Proctored Final Exam Related

Review ATI Medsurg Proctored Final Exam related questions and content

A nurse works with an AP assigned to bathe a client with herpes zoster. The AP asks if it is contagious. What should the nurse say?

  • A. Herpes zoster is not contagious to people who have had chickenpox.
  • B. Herpes zoster spreads through the air.
  • C. Herpes zoster is highly contagious to everyone.
  • D. Herpes zoster only spreads through blood contact.
Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A. Herpes zoster, also known as shingles, is caused by the reactivation of the varicella-zoster virus, which also causes chickenpox. Individuals who have had chickenpox in the past are not at risk of getting shingles from someone with herpes zoster. The virus is not transmitted through the air (choice B) or through blood contact only (choice D). It is not highly contagious to everyone (choice C). By explaining to the AP that herpes zoster is not contagious to individuals who have had chickenpox, the nurse provides accurate information and helps alleviate concerns about the spread of the virus.