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Question

Difficulty: MediumHandling Hazardous and Infectious Materials

A client is receiving a high therapeutic dose of radioactive iodine (I-131) for the treatment of thyroid cancer. A few hours after the dose is administered, the client accidentally spills a large amount of urine on the hospital room floor. Which action should the nurse take first?

  1. Cover the spill with absorbent paper pads and immediately contact the facility's Radiation Safety Officer.Answer
  2. B
    Don a gown, double gloves, and face shield to clean the spill using a diluted bleach solution.
  3. C
    Delegate the cleanup of the room to environmental services using standard hospital-grade disinfectants.
  4. D
    Wipe up the spill with paper towels and dispose of them in a red infectious biohazard waste bag.

Answer

The priority action is to cover the radioactive spill with absorbent paper pads to contain it and immediately contact the facility's Radiation Safety Officer.
When an unsealed radioactive source (like I-131 urine) is spilled, the primary goals are containment and specialized cleanup. Covering the spill with absorbent pads achieves immediate containment without spreading the liquid. The Radiation Safety Officer must then be contacted to manage the actual cleanup and testing of the area to ensure safe radiation levels.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Recognize the specific hazard associated with I-131 treatment.
Identify that the client's bodily fluids, particularly urine, are highly radioactive.
I-131 is an unsealed radioactive isotope excreted primarily through the renal system.
2
Determine the safest immediate intervention to manage a radioactive liquid spill.
Cover the fluid with absorbent material (such as chux pads) without attempting to wipe it up.
Covering the liquid prevents it from spreading or being tracked across the floor by foot traffic, which would expand the zone of radioactive contamination.
3
Identify the appropriate personnel to manage the radioactive decontamination.
Notify the Radiation Safety Officer (RSO).
Radioactive spills require specialized decontamination kits, dosimeter monitoring, and specific disposal protocols that must be overseen by the RSO.

Key Concept

Management of Unsealed Radioactive Spills
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Topics

Handling Hazardous and Infectious Materials

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