Which patient should NOT be assigned to a pregnant nurse?

The choice to avoid assigning a patient recovering from shingles to a pregnant nurse is rooted in the potential risks associated with the varicella zoster virus, which causes shingles. Although the nurse may have had a previous chickenpox infection and has immunity, it is important to consider that shingles can spread the virus, particularly to those who are susceptible, such as pregnant women who have not had chickenpox or the varicella vaccine.

In this context, exposure to the patient recovering from shingles could pose a risk of transmitting the virus, which can lead to complications for both the nurse and her unborn child if she were to contract chickenpox during pregnancy. This consideration is crucial for maintaining the health and safety of both the healthcare provider and her developing fetus, making this patient an inappropriate assignment for a pregnant nurse.

While the other patients listed may have managed conditions, they do not carry the same infectious risk associated with shingles, thereby making their assignments safer for a pregnant nurse.