Lisa 19 years old has been admitted with hep B, she wants a cigarette but doesn't have money to buy any. Lisa is getting agitated and asks to go outside the hospital for a few minutes. What should the nurse say?

• A. You are allowed to go outside for a few minutes if you are not in isolation
• B. You are expected to stay on the unit as long as you are in isolation
• C. You may go outside only if you wear a mask
• D. Visitors are allowed at any time

Answer: (B)

Staying on the unit while in isolation is required to protect others from infection. When a patient has a contagious condition like hepatitis B, leaving the unit could expose people in the hallways and beyond to blood or body fluids. The nurse’s statement should clearly reinforce that you are expected to stay on the unit as long as you are in isolation. If the patient is agitated or craving a cigarette, the nurse can acknowledge the distress and offer support or alternatives while keeping to the policy, such as coping strategies or nicotine replacement options.

Why the other ideas don’t fit: leaving the unit is not allowed simply because a patient isn’t in isolation; wearing a mask doesn’t change the need to stay contained in isolation; and visits aren’t unrestricted when isolation is in place.