Question

A phlebotomy technician is obtaining a diagnostic blood specimen when a family member of the patient enters the isolated room without proper precautions. The technician should?

1) Politely ask the family member to leave the room immediately
2) Continue with the blood specimen collection
3) Inform the family member about the importance of proper precautions and ask them to leave the room
4) Call for assistance from a supervisor or security personnel

Answer 1

The phlebotomy technician should inform the family member of proper precautions and ask them to leave the room to ensure safety and infection control, escalating if necessary.

Step-by-step explanation:

In the scenario presented, the phlebotomy technician should prioritize patient safety and infection control procedures. Therefore, the correct response is to inform the family member about the importance of proper precautions and ask them to leave the room. This not only ensures the safety of the patient but also the family member, as the room may have isolation protocols in place to prevent the spread of infection.

If the family member does not comply, the technician should then consider escalating the situation by calling for assistance from a supervisor or security personnel to maintain safety and compliance with health policies.