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Question

Difficulty: HardAccident, Error, and Injury Prevention

A registered nurse enters the room of a client receiving internal radiation therapy (brachytherapy) for cervical cancer. The nurse discovers that the sealed radioactive implant has accidentally dislodged and is resting on the bedsheets. Which action should the nurse take first?

  1. Use the long-handled forceps kept in the room to grasp the implant and place it directly into the bedside lead-lined container.Answer
  2. B
    Perform an immediate focused assessment of the client's pelvic region for hemorrhage before touching the implant.
  3. C
    Delegate an unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP) to stand at the doorway and monitor the implant's location while the nurse notifies the healthcare provider.
  4. D
    Apply a contact precaution gown and double gloves to protect against contamination before manually picking up the implant.

Answer

The nurse must first use the long-handled forceps to place the dislodged implant into the lead-lined container.
The first priority when a sealed radiation implant dislodges is to secure the radioactive source to minimize exposure to the client and staff. The nurse must use long-handled forceps (maximizing distance) to pick up the implant and immediately place it into the designated lead-lined container (providing shielding) that is mandated to be kept in the client's room for this specific emergency. Once the source is safely secured, the nurse can safely assess the client and notify the healthcare provider.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the immediate hazard presented in the scenario.
The dislodged brachytherapy implant is actively emitting radiation, posing an acute threat of radiation exposure and burns to both the client and staff.
Recognizing the nature of the hazard dictates the necessary safety protocol.
2
Determine the safest method to neutralize a radiological hazard.
Radiation safety relies on three core principles: minimizing time, maximizing distance, and using appropriate shielding.
Direct physical contact with the source bypasses these principles and causes immediate harm.
3
Select the nursing intervention that correctly applies these principles.
Using long-handled forceps (distance) to place the implant in a lead-lined container (shielding) safely secures the source.
This action immediately eliminates the environmental danger, allowing the nurse to then safely assess and treat the client.

Key Concept

Radiation Safety Principles (Time, Distance, Shielding)
Estimated Time:1m 15s
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Topics

Accident, Error, and Injury Prevention

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