During a shift on a medical-surgical unit, a charge nurse distributes tasks for several clients who require isolation protocols. Which of the following actions demonstrates the correct application of infection control practices while remaining strictly within the practical nurse's scope of practice?
- Putting on a fluid-resistant gown, a surgical mask, and goggles before performing a high-pressure wound irrigation on a client who is on standard precautions.Answer
- BRemoving the N95 respirator and face shield while standing inside the negative-pressure isolation room after caring for a client with disseminated varicella zoster.
- CAccepting a task to perform the comprehensive admission physical assessment and establish the initial isolation care plan for a client newly admitted with bacterial meningitis.
- DCleansing hands exclusively with an alcohol-based hand rub immediately after emptying a bedside commode for a client who is diagnosed with an active Clostridioides difficile infection.
Answer
Putting on a fluid-resistant gown, a surgical mask, and goggles before performing a high-pressure wound irrigation on a client who is on standard precautions.
The correct action demonstrates an accurate understanding of standard precautions and scope of practice. Standard precautions dictate that healthcare workers must don a fluid-resistant gown, a surgical mask, and eye protection whenever a procedure, such as a high-pressure wound irrigation, is likely to generate splashes or sprays of blood and body fluids. The absence of transmission-based precautions does not negate the need for extensive PPE if physical exposure is anticipated. Furthermore, executing an irrigation for an established wound is a standardized procedural task that falls appropriately within the scope of practice for a practical nurse.
Step-by-Step Solution
Key Concept
Dynamic Application of Standard Precautions and Safe Delegation