A nurse at a long-term care facility is assisting with teaching staff about infection control practices. Which of the following examples should the nurse include as an infection control hazard?

A. Medication administration record:

The medication administration record (MAR) primarily contains information related to medications, dosages, and administration times. While it provides important details about medications, it may not offer a comprehensive overview of the client's overall care.

B. Standardized care plan:

A standardized care plan typically outlines general care guidelines and interventions for specific conditions. It may provide a structured approach to care but might lack the individualized details needed for a specific client.

C. 180 record:

The term "180 record" does not commonly refer to a standard nursing documentation form. It might be a local or facility-specific term. Without additional information, it's unclear what type of information this form would contain.

D. Client care Kardex:

This is the correct answer. The Client care Kardex, also known as the patient care summary or Kardex, is a document that consolidates key information about a client's care, including diagnoses, treatments, procedures, and other relevant details. It provides a snapshot of the client's current status and facilitates communication among healthcare providers.

A. A staff member places a midstream urine sample in a specimen refrigerator after collecting it: This action is appropriate as long as the specimen is labeled correctly and stored at the correct temperature. Proper handling of specimens is essential for accurate testing and does not represent an infection control hazard.

B. A staff member wipes a countertop with chlorhexidine solution to clean the area following a blood spill: This action is appropriate for cleaning a contaminated surface. Chlorhexidine is an effective disinfectant for blood spills. Therefore, this action does not represent an infection control hazard.

C. A nurse uses alcohol-based antiseptic to clean his hands after talking with a client who has varicella zoster: While alcohol-based antiseptics are effective for most pathogens, varicella zosteris primarily spread through direct contact and airborne transmission. It is recommended to wash hands with soap and water after caring for a patient with varicella zoster, especially if hands are visibly soiled. This action may not adequately control the infection hazard.

D. A nurse pours sterile 0.9% sodium chloride irrigation solution on an open pressure wound prior to collecting a specimen for culture: This action is appropriate as long as sterile technique is maintained. Using sterile saline for irrigation is standard practice to minimize the risk of introducing pathogens before specimen collection. Therefore, this action does not represent an infection control hazard.