Question

Select all that apply: In delivering care to her patients, Rachel is careful to reduce the potential for patient and staff injury by: A. Using standard precautions B. Taking needle-stick precautions C. Following good handwashing technique D. Wearing gloves when she delivers meal trays to her patients

Short answer

Rachel is reducing potential for patient and staff injury by using options A (Using standard precautions), B (Taking needle-stick precautions), and C (Following good handwashing technique).

Step-by-step solution

Evaluate Each Option

Start by evaluating each of the options:\nOption A (Using standard precautions), B (Taking needle-stick precautions), C (Following good handwashing technique) are all accepted measures that are implemented in healthcare settings to reduce the risk of spread of infections or harm.\nOption D (wearing gloves when delivering meal trays) does not directly contribute to reducing injury or disease transmission, as this act does not involve direct patient contact or risk of spreading infection.

Determine Valid Options

After evaluating each option, it's clear that options A, B and C are valid methods Rachel could use to reduce the potential for patient and staff injury.

Confirm Answer

With options A, B and C confirmed as valid, these are the methods Rachel is using to reduce potential injury.

Key concepts

Infection Control Measures

When working in a healthcare setting, infection control measures are crucial to preventing the spread of diseases among patients and staff. These measures help maintain a clean and safe environment. One of the key strategies is the use of standard precautions. These precautions are used with all patients to minimize the risk of transmission from both recognized and unrecognized sources of infection. This includes tasks such as:

• Proper hand hygiene after contact with blood or body fluids.
• Using personal protective equipment (PPE) like gloves and masks to provide a barrier against infections.
• Appropriate handling and disposal of sharps and other contaminated items.

Implementing these measures consistently can significantly reduce the potential for infection in a healthcare environment.

Patient Safety Strategies

Ensuring patient safety is a paramount concern in nursing practice. Effective safety strategies not only protect patients but also safeguard healthcare providers. One essential approach is taking needle-stick precautions. Healthcare professionals must handle needles and other sharp instruments carefully to avoid accidental injury and potential exposure to infections like Hepatitis B, C, or HIV.

• Always use safety-engineered sharps devices where available.
• Do not recap needles manually after use.
• Dispose of used sharps immediately in designated containers.

Additionally, adhering to good handwashing techniques is one of the simplest yet most effective ways to keep both patients and healthcare workers safe. Hand hygiene should be performed promptly before and after patient contact, and whenever dirt or fluids are present on hands.

Nurse Clinical Decision-Making

Clinical decision-making is an integral part of nursing that involves applying knowledge and critical thinking to make choices that impact patient care. It requires balancing theoretical knowledge with practical experiences. Nurses, like Rachel, often must evaluate several possible actions and make decisions that best serve patient safety and health. For instance, Rachel correctly identifies standard precautions, needle-stick precautions, and handwashing as effective safety measures. These decisions are informed by evidence-based practices and institutional policies designed to prevent harm.

Evaluating all available information and understanding the context of care.

Prioritizing interventions based on patient needs and potential risk factors.

Applying clinical guidelines and integrating patient preferences when planning care.

Strong decision-making skills ensure nurses can provide high-quality, safe, and effective care to their patients.