Help on STD Question

Nursing Students Student Assist

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Hey there,

I have a take come assignment and there is one question that I just can not decide one way or the other. It goes like this.

Which of the following statements best educates the client regarding the transmission of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs)?

A. Always have protected sex, and you will be safe.

B. Be careful to avoid coming into contact with a partner's semen or lady partsl secretions.

C. STDs are spread from person to person by coming into contact with their sperm or lady partsl secretions.

D. STDs can be transmitted through any open sore that comes into contact with a partner's semen or lady partsl secretions.

Now here's my analysis...

A. NO. That's simply not true.

B. NO. Good advise but does not take the educational form. It doesn't tell you why. It also just seems far too broad.

C & D. I'm debating between these two. C can be true, but it is also false, in the sense that if you get sperm on your hand without an open would, you're not going to get an STD. Also, is there a difference between sperm from C, and semen in D. And I like D because it is more specific and points out that you can get an STD from more than just normal sexual contact with semen or lady partsl secretions, but it seems to limit the answer to only an open sore, which could leave someone believing that they are good to have unprotected sex as long as they don't have an open sore. Also, C says "are spread" and D says "can be spread". It seems like a "can be" statement just leaves out too much of the picture, whereas the "are spread" statement is more conclusive and definite.

Can anyone help? I think this question is giving me an STD! Is that possible?

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D isn't true because STD's aren't always transferred through open sores. You don't have to have an open sore to get one.

I feel like all of them are wrong in some way. That is hard. Sorry I can't be more helpful. Is there a resource, or your notes you can reference? Otherwise I would ask the instructor.

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Specializes in Utilization Management.

D doesn't say that STDs are always transmitted via open sores, it says they can be transmitted that way, which is true. If I had to pick, I'd go with D. C doesn't appeal to me b/c it makes it seem like seminal/lady partsl secretions have to be present in order to transmit the disease and that's not true. Herpes and HPV (for example) can be spread without seminal or lady partsl secretions being present.

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Thank you for your input.

I know, this questions is a real tangler.

I mean I guess it all comes down to exactly what you mean by "best educate" and unfortunately I don't know exactly what they mean by that.

My initial gut reaction was D because it was the most specifically true answer.

I can see why C could be considered false. Whereas D can not be considered false. I could get sperm on my hand and not get an STD. One could also get sperm in their lady parts and not get an STD... if the male did not have an STD. I say that because it makes C seem like they are saying you always get an STD from just coming into contact with the sperm or lady partsl secretion.

I guess in that sense I like "can be" instead of "are".

Anyone else willing to chime in?

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Specializes in LTC, M/S, CCU, ER.

I would go with D as well, for all the reasons that you listed above. Good critical thinking on your part! :)

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