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?

Ask the APs to discontinue the conversation:

This is the most appropriate immediate action. Discussing a client's care in a public area violates the principle of patient confidentiality. The nurse should intervene promptly and ask the assistive personnel to stop the conversation.

Inform the client what has occurred:

While transparency with the client is important, it may not be the first action to take in this situation. The priority is to address the breach of confidentiality by stopping the conversation.

Notify the client's provider:

Notifying the client's provider is not the initial action to take in this situation. First, the nurse should address the immediate issue by stopping the inappropriate conversation. The provider may be informed later, if necessary.

Schedule a disciplinary conference for the APs:

Scheduling a disciplinary conference is a step that may be taken after addressing the immediate issue. The priority is to stop the inappropriate conversation and address confidentiality concerns before considering disciplinary actions.

A. A staff member places a midstream urine sample in a specimen refrigerator after collecting it:

This is a proper practice. Refrigerating the sample after collection helps preserve its integrity and prevents bacterial growth until it can be analyzed.

B. A staff member wipes a countertop with chlorhexidine solution to clean the area following a blood spill:

This is a proper infection control practice. Chlorhexidine is an effective disinfectant, and cleaning the area following a blood spill helps prevent the spread of infectious agents.

C. A nurse uses alcohol-based antiseptic to clean his hands after talking with a client who has varicella zoster:

This is a proper practice. Alcohol-based antiseptic is effective in killing a broad spectrum of germs, and hand hygiene is crucial, especially after contact with a client who may have an infectious condition.

D. A nurse pours sterile 0.9% sodium chloride irrigation solution on an open pressure wound prior to collecting a specimen for culture:

This is an infection control hazard. Sterile saline irrigation should not be poured onto an open wound before specimen collection, as it can introduce contaminants and interfere with the accuracy of culture results. Specimens should be collected using aseptic technique to avoid contamination.