While collecting a blood sample, the patient slumps over in the phlebotomy chair. Which of the following actions should the phlebotomist take first?

Choice A reason:
Quality control measurements are essential for ensuring the accuracy and reliability of blood glucose monitors. According to best practices, all blood glucose monitors in use, regardless of their origin, should undergo daily quality control checks. This is to verify that the monitors are functioning correctly and providing accurate readings, which is crucial for patient care and treatment decisions.

Choice B reason:
Focusing only on the blood glucose monitors from the new office for daily quality control measurements is not sufficient. While new equipment may be less likely to have wear-and-tear issues that could affect performance, it is still subject to potential inaccuracies and must be included in the daily quality control routine.

Choice C reason:
Similarly, excluding the new monitors and only checking those from the old medical office would neglect the possibility of inaccuracies in the newer equipment. All monitors, irrespective of their age, can experience calibration drift or other issues that affect their performance.

Choice D reason:
Opting not to perform daily quality control measurements on any of the blood glucose monitors would be against the recommended guidelines and could lead to inaccurate blood glucose readings. This could have serious implications for patient health, particularly in the management of diabetes.

Choice A Reason:
Standard precautions are a set of infection control practices used to prevent transmission of diseases that can be acquired by contact with blood, body fluids, non-intact skin (including rashes), and mucous membranes. These measures are to be applied to all patients, regardless of their diagnosis or presumed infection status. Standard precautions include hand hygiene, use of personal protective equipment (PPE), respiratory hygiene/cough etiquette, safe injection practices, safe handling of potentially contaminated equipment or surfaces in the patient environment, and aseptic technique.

Choice B Reason:
Safety devices, such as needles with engineered sharps injury protections, are designed to prevent needlestick injuries and the transmission of bloodborne pathogens. While they are an important aspect of a phlebotomist's work, they are not specifically part of the aseptic technique protocol. Aseptic technique focuses on preventing contamination of sterile surfaces and materials to prevent infection.

Choice C Reason:
Quality control logs are records that document the performance of equipment and procedures to ensure they meet the required standards. They are essential for maintaining the integrity of laboratory results and ensuring patient safety. However, quality control logs themselves are not a component of the aseptic technique protocol, which is more concerned with the immediate prevention of infection during clinical procedures.

Choice D Reason:
A disaster emergency plan is a comprehensive document outlining the actions to be taken in case of an emergency. This plan is crucial for ensuring safety and continuity of care during unexpected events but is not related to the aseptic technique protocol. Aseptic technique is a method used to prevent infection during medical procedures by maintaining a sterile environment.