An industrial plant explosion releases an unknown chemical vapor, prompting a local hospital to activate its mass casualty disaster plan. A licensed practical nurse (PN) is assigned to assist in the facility's external decontamination area. Which action by the PN is most appropriate?
- Instruct ambulatory clients to remove their own clothing and place it into designated, sealed hazardous waste receptacles.Cevap
- BApply a standard isolation gown, surgical mask, and examination gloves before physically assisting non-ambulatory clients in the shower.
- CPerform the initial clinical assessments to assign color-coded triage tags to arriving victims based on their injury severity.
- DInterview a client exhibiting audible stridor to obtain a complete list of their routine home medications and medical allergies.
Cevap
The most appropriate action is to instruct ambulatory clients to remove their own clothing and place it into designated, sealed hazardous waste receptacles.
During a hazardous materials event, the safe removal of the contaminant is the primary goal of the decontamination phase. Having ambulatory clients remove their own clothing eliminates approximately 70-90% of the contaminant while minimizing secondary exposure to healthcare staff. This action is a safe, protocol-driven task that falls well within the scope of practice for the practical nurse.
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Hazardous Materials Decontamination and PN Scope of Practice