Which of the following should a nurse instruct clients about during droplet precautions?

Keeping hands sanitized frequently is crucial during droplet precautions, as it helps to prevent the spread of infectious agents. Droplet precautions are implemented to protect against pathogens that are transmitted through respiratory droplets when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or talks. By instructing clients to frequently sanitize their hands, the nurse emphasizes the importance of maintaining infection control measures. Hand hygiene significantly reduces the likelihood of pathogens being transferred from the hands to other surfaces or to the mucous membranes of the mouth, nose, or eyes, where infections can take hold.

While other options such as wearing masks or gloves are also important in certain contexts, frequent hand sanitization is universally applicable and fundamental to all infection control practices, making it an essential instruction for clients under droplet precautions.