HESI CAT Exam Related

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An adult male who admits to abusing IV drugs obtains the results of HIV testing. When informed that the results are positive, he states that he does not want his wife to know. What action should the nurse take?

  • A. Tell the client he is required by law to inform his sexual partners of his HIV status
  • B. Counsel the client about the importance of notifying his sexual partner
  • C. Inform the wife of her health risk related to her husband's HIV results
  • D. Report the client's status as a sexually transmitted case to the health department
Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The nurse should counsel the client on the importance of notifying partners about HIV status while respecting confidentiality. Mandatory partner notification laws vary by jurisdiction, so option A cannot be universally applied. Breaching patient confidentiality, as suggested in option C, is unethical. Reporting the client's status to the health department without consent, as in option D, is not appropriate as HIV status is confidential information and is not automatically reported as a sexually transmitted case.