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Difficulty: MediumEmergency Response and Hazardous Materials

A practical nurse (PN) is walking through the hallway of an inpatient oncology unit and observes a glass bottle of liquid antineoplastic (chemotherapy) medication drop from a transport cart. The bottle shatters, spilling the hazardous fluid across the high-traffic floor. What is the most appropriate initial action for the PN to take?

  1. Block access to the contaminated area and alert the charge nurse to initiate hazardous spill protocols.Answer
  2. B
    Put on clean exam gloves and a surgical mask to immediately cover the fluid with absorbent towels.
  3. C
    Delegate the unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP) to promptly mop the floor to prevent slip-and-fall injuries.
  4. D
    Move the closest clients out of their rooms into the hallway to quickly assess their airway and breathing.

Answer

The correct action is to block access to the contaminated area and alert the charge nurse to initiate hazardous spill protocols.
Antineoplastic (chemotherapy) medications are highly toxic and hazardous. When a spill occurs, the primary initial action is to immediately block access to the contaminated area to prevent secondary exposure to staff, clients, and visitors. Once the perimeter is secured, the nurse must alert the charge nurse or specialized hazardous materials team to initiate proper containment and cleanup protocols.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the nature of the spilled substance based on the scenario.
The substance is an antineoplastic (chemotherapy) medication, which is classified as a highly toxic and hazardous material.
Recognizing the hazard level dictates the appropriate emergency and safety response protocols.
2
Determine the immediate safety priority for a hazardous spill in a high-traffic area.
The primary risk is secondary exposure to clients, staff, and visitors who might inadvertently walk through or inhale the substance.
Hazardous materials require strict, immediate physical containment of the area to prevent widespread contamination and harm.
3
Select the nursing intervention that best addresses the safety priority without exceeding the scope of practice.
The nurse must secure the perimeter and notify the charge nurse or specialized team.
This prevents immediate harm while activating the facility's specialized hazardous materials cleanup protocol, as standard cleaning methods are unsafe.

Key Concept

Hazardous Material Spill Response
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Topics

Emergency Response and Hazardous Materials

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