Nursing Prioritization Delegation Assignment Q 62
Sally is a nurse working in an emergency department and receives a client after a radiological accident. Which task is the utmost priority for the nurse to do first?
A. Decontaminate the client's clothing.
B. Decontaminate the open wound on the client's thigh.
C. Decontaminate the examination room the client is placed in.
D. Save the client's vomitus for analysis by the radiation safety staff.
Correct Answer: B. Decontaminate the open wound on the client’s thigh.
Decontaminating an open wound is the first priority for the client. This minimizes the absorption of radiation in the client’s body. A radiological accident is an event that involves the release of potentially dangerous radioactive materials into the environment. This release is usually in the form of a cloud or “plume” and could affect the health and safety of anyone in its path.
Option A: Getting radioactive material off the body as soon as possible can lower a worker’s radiation dose from external contamination. Removing outer clothing and showering or, at a minimum, washing the face, hands, and any other exposed skin are essential decontamination steps.
Option C: Decontamination of emergency response workers, their clothing, and any equipment, including PPE they may be using, is essential to limit radiation dose and prevent the spread of radioactive contamination outside of the response area.
Option D: A prodromal period during which victims may experience loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, fatigue, and diarrhea; after extremely high doses, additional symptoms such as fever, prostration (laying down), respiratory distress, and hyper-excitability can occur. In cases where the dose is not sufficient to cause rapid death, these symptoms usually disappear within 1-2 days.