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Difficulty: MediumEmergency Response and Hazardous Materials

A client arrives at a rural hospital emergency department covered in an unidentified industrial powder following a local factory explosion. The facility initiates hazardous materials (HazMat) protocols. Which of the following actions should the practical nurse take? Select all that apply.

  1. Direct the ambulatory client to a designated external decontamination shower.Answer
  2. Instruct the client to carefully remove their clothing without pulling garments over the head.Answer
  3. C
    Remove the particulate respirator mask before taking off the contaminated gown and gloves.
  4. D
    Accept an assignment to independently formulate the initial medical triage categories for all arriving victims.
  5. Secure the client's contaminated garments in a labeled, double-sealed hazardous materials bag.Answer
  6. F
    Prioritize the administration of oral analgesics for minor lacerations before starting the decontamination sequence.

Answer

The practical nurse should direct the client to an external decontamination area, instruct them not to pull clothing over their head, and secure the contaminated garments in a double-sealed hazardous materials bag.
The correct actions prioritize immediate containment, safe decontamination, and environmental protection. Directing the client to an external shower prevents secondary contamination of the hospital. Instructing the client not to pull garments over the head prevents the hazardous powder from entering the respiratory tract. Finally, securing the contaminated clothing in double-sealed, labeled bags effectively contains the hazardous material and protects staff.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Initiate external containment and decontamination procedures immediately.
The facility interior remains secure from secondary contamination while the client begins the critical cleansing process.
Preventing the spread of hazardous powder to the interior hospital environment and protecting other patients is the highest environmental priority.
2
Assist with safe garment removal and secure hazardous waste storage.
The primary source of the hazardous exposure is eliminated without compromising the client's airway.
Cutting away clothing or slipping it down prevents powder from aerosolizing near the face, and double-bagging fully contains the ongoing threat.
3
Maintain strict adherence to the practical nursing scope of practice and personal protective equipment protocols.
The nurse remains safe from cross-contamination and ensures advanced triage assessments are delegated appropriately.
Improper doffing of respiratory equipment or accepting tasks beyond the practical nurse scope compromises both individual staff safety and overall disaster response outcomes.

Key Concept

Hazardous Materials Response and Scope of Practice
Estimated Time:1m 30s
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Topics

Emergency Response and Hazardous Materials

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