While caring for a patient preparing for a kidney transplant, the nurse knows that the patient understands teaching on immunosuppression when she makes which statement?

A) "My body will treat the new kidney like my original kidney."
B) "I will have to make sure that I avoid being around people."
C) "The medications that I take will help prevent my body from attacking my new kidney."
D) "My body will only have a problem with my new kidney if the donor is not directly related to me."

Immunosuppressant therapy is initiated to inhibit optimal immune response. This is necessary in the case of transplantation, because the normal immune response would cause the body to recognize the new tissue as foreign and attack it. The body will identify the new kidney as foreign and will not treat it as the original kidney. While patients with transplants must be careful about exposure to others, especially those who are or might be ill, and practice adequate and consistent infection control techniques, they don't have to avoid people or social interaction. The new kidney brings foreign cells regardless of relationship between donor and recipient.