How TB is tested on the NCLEX-RN
Items fall under Safety and Infection Prevention and Control and Pharmacological Therapies.
Infection control
TB spreads through airborne droplet nuclei.
Screening tests
Reading a TB skin test is a classic NCLEX skill.
| Induration | Considered positive for |
|---|---|
| ≥5 mm | People with HIV, recent close contacts, immunosuppressed clients, abnormal chest x-ray consistent with prior TB |
| ≥10 mm | Recent arrivals from high-prevalence countries, people who inject drugs, residents and staff of high-risk settings, children under 4 |
| ≥15 mm | People with no known risk factors |
Measure only the raised, hardened area, not redness. A positive test shows infection, not necessarily active disease; a chest x-ray follows.
RIPE drug therapy
Know the signature adverse effect of each drug.
| Monitor | Report |
|---|---|
| Liver function tests | Jaundice, dark urine, nausea, right upper quadrant pain |
| Vision (ethambutol) | Blurred vision, trouble distinguishing red and green |
| Neuropathy (isoniazid) | Numbness or tingling in hands or feet |
| Adherence | Missed doses; directly observed therapy may be used |
Avoid alcohol during treatment because of liver toxicity.
NGN-style case and teaching
Teaching supports months of adherence.
functions Clinical judgment case — admission
A client is admitted with 4 weeks of productive cough, night sweats, and weight loss. Sputum results are pending. What should the nurse do first?
- Recognize cues: classic symptoms of active pulmonary TB.
- Analyze: the client may be infectious; precautions start on suspicion, not after confirmation.
- Place the client in an airborne infection isolation room; staff wear N95 respirators.
- Obtain sputum specimens as ordered (often early-morning samples) and notify infection prevention.
Answer. Initiate airborne precautions in a negative-pressure room right away, before results return.
- Take medications exactly as prescribed for the full course, often 6 months or more.
- Expect orange urine, sweat, and tears with rifampin; soft contact lenses can be stained.
- Avoid alcohol; report yellow skin, dark urine, vision changes, or tingling.
- Close contacts should be screened.