A nurse is serving on a committee that is developing infectious disease protocols. Which of the following instructions should the nurse include in the protocol for clients who have Clostridium difficile?

A. In team nursing, an RN assumes the role of a team leader or coordinator. The RN oversees and coordinates the care provided by other team members, which may include licensed practical nurses (LPNs), nursing assistants, and other healthcare professionals. The team collaborates to meet the needs of a group of clients.

B. Caring for the same clients throughout their hospitalization is more characteristic of primary nursing, where an RN takes primary responsibility for the care of a specific group of clients.

C. Linking community resources with clients to ensure quality care is more aligned with case management or community health nursing, where the focus is on coordinating services across healthcare settings and connecting clients with appropriate resources.

D. Providing every aspect of care for a group of clients during a shift is not consistent with team nursing. In team nursing, the workload is distributed among team members, and an RN typically coordinates and oversees the care provided by the team.

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.