Question

A nurse observes an assistive personnel (AP) make a client's bed while the client is out of the room. Which of the following actions by the AP is appropriate for this task?

A) Changing the bed linens without wearing gloves
B) Shaking the sheets to remove wrinkles
C) Placing the used linens on the floor temporarily
D) Washing hands before and after making the bed

Answer 1

The appropriate action for an assistive personnel (AP) to take while making a client's bed in a healthcare setting is washing hands before and after making the bed to help prevent the spread of infection.

Step-by-step explanation:

When an assistive personnel (AP) is making a client's bed, especially in a healthcare setting, it is important to follow appropriate infection control procedures. Of the options provided, the appropriate action for the AP to take while making the bed is:

D) Washing hands before and after making the bed

This action is crucial as it helps prevent the spread of infection. Changing bed linens without wearing gloves could increase the risk of contamination, shaking out linens could disseminate pathogens into the air, and placing used linens on the floor even temporarily is considered poor practice for maintaining a clean environment. Therefore, thorough hand hygiene is the most appropriate of the listed actions. Other best practices, not mentioned in the options, include wearing gloves when handling soiled linens, placing soiled linens directly into a laundry bag or designated container, and not placing any items on the floor to maintain cleanliness.