A practical nurse has finished providing care for a client in an airborne infection isolation room who is diagnosed with active pulmonary tuberculosis. The nurse is wearing an isolation gown, clean gloves, a face shield, and a fit-tested N95 respirator. Which sequence correctly describes the appropriate steps for doffing this personal protective equipment (PPE) to minimize the risk of contamination?
- ARemove the gown, remove the gloves, exit the room, remove the face shield, and finally remove the N95 respirator.
- BRemove the N95 respirator, remove the face shield, remove the gloves, remove the gown, and then exit the room.
- Remove the gloves, remove the face shield, remove the gown, exit the room, and finally remove the N95 respirator.Answer
- DRemove the gloves, remove the gown, remove the N95 respirator, exit the room, and finally remove the face shield.
Answer
The correct sequence is to remove the gloves, then the face shield, then the gown while still inside the room, followed by exiting the room and closing the door before safely removing the N95 respirator.
The correct sequence strictly follows the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines for doffing PPE. The most heavily contaminated item (the gloves) is removed first. The face shield and gown are then safely removed while the nurse is still inside the room. Because the client has active tuberculosis (which requires Airborne Precautions), the N95 respirator must remain securely in place until the nurse has fully exited the room and the door is closed to prevent inhalation of suspended droplet nuclei.
Step-by-Step Solution
Key Concept
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Doffing Sequence and Airborne Precautions