During a busy shift on a medical-surgical unit, a client with a known history of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) begins experiencing frequent, foul-smelling diarrhea. A stool specimen for Clostridioides difficile testing has been prescribed. An unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP) asks the practical nurse for directions regarding assisting the client with the bedpan. Which directive should the practical nurse provide?
- Put on a gown and gloves before handling the bedpan, and remember to wash your hands with soap and water before exiting the room.Answer
- BUse the alcohol-based hand sanitizer immediately after removing your gown and gloves to effectively destroy the MRSA and enteric pathogens.
- CWhile you are collecting the stool sample, please palpate the client's abdomen for tenderness and report your findings to me.
- DDon a surgical mask, face shield, gown, and gloves before entering the room since the client's symptoms indicate droplet transmission.
Answer
The directive to put on a gown and gloves before handling the bedpan, and to wash hands with soap and water before exiting the room.
The correct response accurately synthesizes three critical clinical principles. First, it identifies that both MRSA and C. difficile require contact precautions (gown and gloves). Second, it correctly emphasizes that hand hygiene must be performed using soap and water, as alcohol-based sanitizers do not eradicate C. difficile spores. Third, assisting a client with a bedpan is a routine, standard task safely within the UAP's scope of practice.
Step-by-Step Solution
Key Concept
Contact precautions, specific hand hygiene requirements for spore-forming bacteria, and safe delegation principles.