What should the nurse do if the client reports cough, chills, and night sweats following international travel?

In this scenario, the correct response is to place the client on isolation precautions. The combination of symptoms—cough, chills, and night sweats—following international travel raises concerns about possible infectious diseases that could be transmitted to others. Isolation precautions are critical in preventing the spread of potential pathogens, especially if the client may have a communicable illness like tuberculosis or another airborne infection.

By placing the client in isolation, the nurse ensures that they receive necessary care while also safeguarding other patients and healthcare workers from potential exposure to contagious diseases. This approach emphasizes the importance of infection control practices in healthcare settings, especially in patients with recent international travel histories, where they may have been exposed to new or less common pathogens.

Other options, such as performing a chest x-ray or starting antibiotic therapy, may be appropriate in further assessment and management of the patient but do not address the immediate need for infection control. Administering a flu vaccine is not relevant in this situation, as the symptoms present do not necessarily indicate influenza, nor is vaccination an immediate intervention in response to the acute symptoms described.