Question

A patient who has a diagnosis of colostrum Difficile placed on contact precautions. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?

A. Remove protective gloves after leaving the patient room
B. Leaves stethoscope in room for BP monitoring
C. We are mask when working within 3 feet of patient
D. keep door of patient's room closed AAT

Answer 1

The nurse should wear protective gloves while in the patient's room, keep the stethoscope in the room and disinfect it after use, wear a mask within 3 feet of the patient, and keep the patient's door closed, while maintaining stringent hand hygiene and surface disinfection protocols to prevent the spread of C. difficile.

Step-by-step explanation:

A patient with a diagnosis of Clostridium difficile (C. difficile) requires adherence to strict infection control practices. In accordance with contact precautions, the following actions should be implemented by the nurse:

• Wear protective gloves when entering the patient's room and remove them before leaving the room to prevent the spread of infection to other areas.
• The stethoscope, being a potential vehicle for transmission, should remain in the room and be disinfected after each use.
• Wearing a mask when working within 3 feet of the patient is advisable, especially if there is a risk of splashes or sprays of bodily fluids.
• Keeping the door of the patient's room closed is important to minimize the risk of spreading the infection outside the room.

Additionally, hand hygiene is critical, requiring thorough washing with soap and water, especially after removing gloves. All equipment and surfaces should be cleaned and disinfected appropriately to maintain a sterile environment and prevent healthcare-associated infections (HAIs). It is notable that some protocols may vary depending on the healthcare setting and the severity of the infection.