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Question

Difficulty: MediumHandling Hazardous and Infectious Materials

A nurse working on an oncology unit accidentally drops a vial of an antineoplastic medication, which shatters and spills approximately 30 mL of the liquid onto the floor. Which of the following is the priority nursing action?

  1. Restrict access to the contaminated area and obtain a designated chemotherapy spill kit.Answer
  2. B
    Instruct an unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP) to quickly mop the area with hospital-grade disinfectant.
  3. C
    Cover the liquid with standard isolation gowns and place them in a red infectious waste biohazard bag.
  4. D
    Put on sterile surgical gloves and a standard face mask to wipe up the spill immediately.

Answer

The priority action is to restrict access to the contaminated area and obtain a designated chemotherapy spill kit.
Chemotherapy agents are highly toxic and pose a significant occupational hazard. When a spill occurs, the immediate priority is to protect the client, staff, and visitors from exposure by restricting access to the area. The nurse must then use a designated chemotherapy spill kit, which contains the appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) and specific disposal bags designed for hazardous drugs.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the nature of the hazard based on the clinical scenario.
The spilled substance is an antineoplastic medication, which is classified as a highly toxic hazardous drug.
Recognizing the substance dictates the specific safety and cleanup protocols required.
2
Determine the immediate safety priority.
The primary goal is to prevent occupational and environmental exposure to the toxic agent.
Hazardous drugs can cause serious health effects upon contact, inhalation, or absorption.
3
Select the appropriate nursing intervention for hazardous spills.
Securing the area and utilizing a specialized chemotherapy spill kit is the correct procedure.
Spill kits contain specific PPE (such as chemo-tested gloves and gowns) and hazardous waste disposal bags required by safety guidelines to properly manage the spill.

Key Concept

Handling Hazardous and Infectious Materials: Chemotherapy Spills
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Topics

Handling Hazardous and Infectious Materials

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