A nurse is caring for a patient admitted with active pulmonary tuberculosis (TB). The nurse is preparing to enter the patient's room to perform a skin integrity assessment. Which action best explains why the nurse dons an N95 respirator rather than a standard surgical mask before entering the room?
- Surgical masks are reserved only for droplet precautions and are not used in any isolation setting.
- An N95 respirator is required only when the patient is actively coughing, not during routine assessments.
- Tuberculosis spreads via airborne particles that remain suspended in the air, requiring a higher level of respiratory protection.
- The N95 respirator prevents contact transmission of TB organisms on the patient's skin surface.