Question

A nurse is following medical asepsis when caring for clients in a critical care unit. Which nursing actions follow these principles? Select all that apply.

A.) The nurse moves soiled equipment away from the body when cleaning it.
B.) The nurse carries soiled items away from the body.
C.) The nurse pours discarded liquids into a basin then pours them into the drain.
D.) The nurse places soiled bed linen on the floor.
E.) The nurse cleans least soiled areas first and then moves to more soiled ones.
F.) The nurse opens a window and dusts the room in the direction of the window.

Answer 1

In critical care units, nurses must follow medical asepsis to prevent the spread of infections. Actions that adhere to aseptic principles include moving soiled equipment away from the body, carrying soiled items away from the body, proper disposal of liquids, and cleaning least soiled areas first.

Step-by-step explanation:

Following medical asepsis is crucial in health care, especially in critical care units, to prevent the spread of infections. The correct nursing actions that follow the principles of asepsis include:

• The nurse moves soiled equipment away from the body when cleaning it. This minimizes the risk of contaminating the nurse's clothing and spreading microbes.
• The nurse carries soiled items away from the body. This practice also reduces the risk of contaminating the nurse's uniform or spreading germs to other areas.
• The nurse pours discarded liquids into a basin then pours them into the drain. Disposing of liquids in this manner prevents splashing and spreading contaminants.
• The nurse cleans least soiled areas first and then moves to more soiled ones. This sequence of cleaning reduces the risk of spreading contaminants from more heavily soiled areas to cleaner areas.

Other options such as placing soiled bed linen on the floor and dusting the room in the direction of the window do not adhere to aseptic principles and can potentially increase the risk of contamination.