Exhibits
Select 4 interventions, assessments, and patient education strategies you would use to decrease the risk of a Healthcare-Associated Infection (HAI) for Mr. Johnson.
Check the patient’s temperature daily.
Keep the surgical dressing in place for the first three post-op days.
Encourage and assist with early ambulation.
Assess the need for the Foley catheter every shift.
Teach and encourage the use of an incentive spirometer.
Monitor laboratory values.
Correct Answer : A,C,D,E
Choice A reason:
Checking the patient’s temperature daily is crucial for early detection of infections. Fever is often one of the first signs of an infection, including Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs). Regular monitoring of temperature can help identify infections early, allowing for prompt intervention and treatment. This is particularly important for Mr. Johnson, who is at increased risk due to his recent surgery and the presence of a Foley catheter. Normal body temperature ranges from 97°F to 99°F (36.1°C to 37.2°C).
Choice B reason:
Keeping the surgical dressing in place for the first three post-op days is important for protecting the surgical site from contamination and infection. However, it is not necessarily a strategy to decrease the risk of HAIs beyond the initial postoperative period. The dressing should be changed according to the healthcare provider’s instructions to ensure the wound remains clean and dry. While this is a good practice, it is not as directly related to preventing HAIs as the other interventions.
Choice C reason:
Encouraging and assisting with early ambulation is vital for preventing postoperative complications, including HAIs. Early ambulation helps improve circulation, lung function, and gastrointestinal motility, reducing the risk of complications such as pneumonia and deep vein thrombosis (DVT). It also promotes overall recovery and reduces the length of hospital stay, which in turn decreases the risk of HAIs. Mobilizing patients early can help prevent respiratory infections and other complications associated with prolonged bed rest.
Choice D reason:
Assessing the need for the Foley catheter every shift is essential for preventing catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs). Foley catheters are a common source of HAIs, and their use should be minimized whenever possible. Regular assessment of the necessity of the catheter can help ensure it is removed as soon as it is no longer needed, reducing the risk of infection. The CDC recommends removing catheters as soon as they are no longer necessary to prevent CAUTIs.
Choice E reason:
Teaching and encouraging the use of an incentive spirometer is an effective strategy for preventing postoperative respiratory complications, including pneumonia. Incentive spirometry encourages deep breathing and lung expansion, which helps prevent atelectasis and improves oxygenation. This is particularly important for postoperative patients who are at risk of developing respiratory infections due to immobility and the effects of anesthesia. Proper use of an incentive spirometer can significantly reduce the risk of respiratory HAIs.
Choice F reason:
Monitoring laboratory values is important for overall patient care but is not specifically targeted at preventing HAIs. Laboratory values can provide valuable information about the patient’s health status and help guide treatment decisions. However, they do not directly address the prevention of infections. While monitoring lab values is a good practice, it is not as directly related to HAI prevention as the other interventions listed.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
Choice A: Masking before interviewing a patient about health history
Masking is generally used when there is a risk of exposure to respiratory droplets, such as when a patient has a known or suspected respiratory infection. However, it is not typically required for a standard health history interview unless there is a specific risk of exposure to infectious agents.
Choice B: Gloving before wiping pink sputum off the bedrail
This is the correct answer. Standard precautions include the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) such as gloves when there is a potential for contact with blood, body fluids, secretions, excretions, or contaminated items. Wiping pink sputum off the bedrail involves contact with potentially infectious material, making gloves necessary to prevent the spread of infection.
Choice C: Applying goggles before helping a patient to ambulate in the hall
Goggles or face shields are used when there is a risk of splashes or sprays of blood, body fluids, secretions, or excretions. Helping a patient to ambulate in the hall does not typically involve such risks, so goggles are not usually required in this scenario.
Choice D: Gowning prior to delivering a food tray to a patient
Gowns are used to protect skin and clothing from contamination when there is a risk of exposure to infectious material. Delivering a food tray to a patient does not generally pose such a risk, so gowning is not necessary for this task under standard precautions.
Correct Answer is ["A","C","E"]
Explanation
Choice A: Monitor for signs and symptoms of infection
Monitoring for signs and symptoms of infection is a fundamental strategy in infection prevention. Early detection of infections allows for timely intervention, which can prevent the spread of pathogens and reduce the severity of the infection. Common signs and symptoms include fever, redness, swelling, pain, and discharge. Regular monitoring helps healthcare providers identify infections early and take appropriate actions, such as isolating the patient or starting treatment.
Choice B: Provide all patients with bottled water
Providing all patients with bottled water is not a standard infection prevention strategy. While ensuring access to clean drinking water is important, it is not specifically aimed at preventing infections. In healthcare settings, tap water is usually safe to drink if it meets regulatory standards. Bottled water may be provided in certain situations, such as during an outbreak of waterborne pathogens, but it is not a routine infection prevention measure.
Choice C: Provide education on infection prevention
Providing education on infection prevention is crucial for both healthcare providers and patients. Education helps individuals understand how infections spread and what measures they can take to prevent them. This includes proper hand hygiene, respiratory etiquette, and the importance of vaccinations. Educating patients and staff can significantly reduce the incidence of healthcare-associated infections by promoting adherence to infection control practices.
Choice D: Request an antibiotic order for a febrile patient
Requesting an antibiotic order for a febrile patient is not an infection prevention strategy but rather a treatment approach. Antibiotics are used to treat bacterial infections, not to prevent them. Overuse of antibiotics can lead to antibiotic resistance, making it crucial to use them judiciously and only when necessary. Infection prevention focuses on measures to prevent the occurrence of infections rather than treating them once they occur.
Choice E: Create a clean, safe environment
Creating a clean, safe environment is essential for infection prevention in healthcare settings. This involves regular cleaning and disinfection of surfaces, proper waste disposal, and maintaining hygiene standards. A clean environment reduces the risk of healthcare-associated infections by minimizing the presence of pathogens. Effective cleaning protocols and environmental controls are critical components of infection prevention strategies.
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