Fundamentals of Nursing Q 242
Which of the following nursing interventions is considered the most effective form for universal precautions?
A. Cap all used needles before removing them from their syringes.
B. Discard all used uncapped needles and syringes in an impenetrable protective container.
C. Wear gloves when administering IM injections.
D. Follow enteric precautions.
Correct Answer: B. Discard all used uncapped needles and syringes in an impenetrable protective container.
According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), blood-to-blood contact occurs most commonly when a health care worker attempts to cap a used needle. Universal precautions are a standard set of guidelines aimed at preventing the transmission of bloodborne pathogens from exposure to blood and other potentially infectious materials (OPIM).
Option A: Therefore, used needles should never be recapped; instead they should be inserted in a specially designed puncture resistant, labeled container. In 1987, the CDC introduced another set of guidelines termed Body Substance Isolation. These guidelines advocated the avoidance of direct physical contact with “all moist and potentially infectious body substances,” even if blood is not visible. A limitation of this guideline was that it emphasized handwashing after removal of gloves only if the hands were visibly soiled.
Option C: Wearing gloves is not always necessary when administering an I.M. injection. Must be worn when touching blood, body fluids, secretions, excretions, mucous membranes, or non-intact skin. Change when there is contact with potentially infected material in the same patient to avoid cross-contamination. Remove before touching surfaces and clean items. Wearing gloves does not mitigate the need for proper hand hygiene.
Option D: Enteric precautions prevent the transfer of pathogens via feces. Universal precautions do not apply to sputum, feces, sweat, vomit, tears, urine, or nasal secretions unless they are visibly contaminated with blood because their transmission of Hepatitis B or HIV is extremely low or non-existent.