Which of the following actions is required immediately after a phlebotomist experiences an accidental needlestick injury when drawing blood from a patient who has HIV?
Report the exposure to the supervisor.
Report the exposure to the CDC.
Send the patient for further STI testing.
Save the collection device for future evaluation.
The Correct Answer is A
Choice A reason:
Reporting the exposure to the supervisor is the immediate and required action after experiencing a needlestick injury. The supervisor will then guide the phlebotomist through the institution's post-exposure protocol, which includes immediate care of the wound, evaluation of the exposure, and initiation of post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) if necessary. This step is crucial to ensure that the risk of HIV transmission is minimized and that the phlebotomist receives appropriate medical attention and follow-up.
Choice B reason:
Reporting the exposure to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is not the immediate action required. The CDC provides guidelines and recommendations for handling such incidents, but the initial report and response are managed at the healthcare facility level. The CDC may be involved in the tracking of such incidents on a larger scale or providing statistical data, but they are not the first point of contact.
Choice C reason:
Sending the patient for further sexually transmitted infection (STI) testing is not an immediate action required following a needlestick injury. The patient's HIV status is already known, and the focus should be on the treatment and protection of the healthcare worker who experienced the needlestick. Any additional testing of the patient would be unrelated to the immediate management of the injury.
Choice D reason:
Saving the collection device for future evaluation is not a standard procedure. While the device may be retained as part of the incident investigation to determine how the injury occurred and to improve safety measures, the immediate concern is the treatment of the injured healthcare worker. The device itself does not play a role in the post-exposure management of the worker.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
Choice A Reason:
Assault is an act that threatens physical harm to a person, whether or not actual harm is done. It is an intentional act where the assailant engages in an action that makes the victim fear an imminent harmful or offensive contact. It does not necessarily involve actual physical contact.
Choice B Reason:
Battery is the intentional and wrongful physical contact with a person without their consent that results in some injury or offensive touching. Unlike negligence, battery requires intentional conduct that results in harmful or offensive contact with another person.
Choice C Reason:
Negligence is the failure to take proper care in doing something, which leads to damage or injury to another person. It involves a breach of duty of care that results in harm. Negligence is not intentional; it is a legal concept that implies that a reasonable level of care was not met under the circumstances.
Choice D Reason:
Fraud is a deliberate deception to secure unfair or unlawful gain, or to deprive a victim of a legal right. Fraud involves intentional misrepresentation or concealment of an important fact upon which the victim is meant to rely, and does so to the victim's detriment. This is different from negligence, which does not involve intentional deceit.
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
Choice A Reason:
The right antecubital fossa is not the optimal site for blood collection in this case because the presence of a shunt in the right forearm can complicate the procedure and potentially damage the shunt, which is a critical access point for dialysis treatments.
Choice B Reason:
The right hand should also be avoided for blood collection due to the shunt placement in the right forearm. Using the same arm as the shunt for venipuncture could lead to complications such as infection, clotting, or accidental damage to the shunt.
Choice C Reason:
The left antecubital fossa might seem like a viable option; however, with an IV placed in the left hand, it is generally recommended to avoid using the same limb for blood collection to prevent contamination of the sample and reduce the risk of infection at the IV site.
Choice D Reason:
Capillary collection from the left hand is the most appropriate choice in this scenario. It avoids the arm with the shunt and the IV, reducing the risk of complications. Capillary blood collection is a suitable alternative when venipuncture sites are limited, and it can provide an adequate sample for a CBC.
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