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 A
Explanation
Choice A Reason:
For blood donation, a 16- to 18-gauge needle is typically used because it is large enough to allow the rapid flow of blood without causing hemolysis (destruction of red blood cells). The larger gauge needle also helps in minimizing the time the donor has to spend during the donation process. Using a needle that is too small could slow down the blood flow and potentially damage the blood cells, which is not ideal for the recipient of the blood donation.
Choice B Reason:
A 19- to 21-gauge needle is commonly used for routine venipuncture but is not ideal for blood donation. These needles are smaller than the 16- to 18-gauge needles and would not facilitate the quick collection of the volume of blood typically required for a donation. They are more suitable for collecting blood samples for testing rather than for donation purposes.
Choice C Reason:
A 22- to 24-gauge needle is even smaller and is often used for patients with smaller veins, such as children or elderly patients. These needles would not be appropriate for blood donation as they could significantly slow the blood flow and increase the donation time, which could be uncomfortable for the donor.
Choice D Reason:
A 25- to 28-gauge needle is the smallest size commonly used in medical practice and is suitable for patients with extremely small or fragile veins. These needles would be impractical for blood donation due to their small size, which would not allow for the efficient flow of blood required for a donation.
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
Choice A reason:
Collecting the specimen in an SST (serum separator tube) is not suitable for ABG (arterial blood gas) analysis. SST tubes are used for chemistry tests that require serum separation after centrifugation and are not designed for the preservation of blood gases.
Choice B reason:
Placing the specimen in ice is the correct action when transporting a specimen for ABG analysis. Cooling the specimen slows down metabolic processes, which can alter the levels of gases and pH in the blood if not promptly analyzed. This is particularly important if there is a delay expected in the analysis of the ABG specimen.
Choice C reason:
Collecting the specimen in sodium citrate is not appropriate for ABG analysis. Sodium citrate is an anticoagulant used in coagulation studies and would interfere with the measurement of blood gases and pH levels in an ABG analysis.
Choice D reason:
Inserting the specimen in a light-resistant package is not a standard requirement for ABG specimens. While protecting specimens from light is important for certain types of tests, such as those for bilirubin, it is not necessary for ABG analysis.
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