Final answer:
After an intramuscular injection of fluphenazine without a safety-lock syringe, the correct action is to immediately place the syringe in an impermeable sharps container to ensure safety and prevent needle-stick injuries.
Step-by-step explanation:
Proper Disposal After Intramuscular Injection
After administering an intramuscular injection of fluphenazine (Prolixin) with a syringe that does not have a safety lock, the best practice is option 3) Immediately place the syringe in a nearby impermeable container. This step is crucial to ensure both the safety of the healthcare provider and to maintain a safe environment.
Recapping the needle (option 1) poses a risk of needle-stick injuries and potential transmission of infectious diseases. It is not recommended to snap the needle off (option 2) as this practice is unsafe and could result in a needle-stick injury. Similarly, using a syringe needle cutter (option 4) is not standard protocol unless a needle cutter device is readily available in the setting, which is not always the case.
The direct disposal of used sharps into a designated sharps container reduces the risk of accidental injuries and complies with recommendations set forth by safety regulations. It's important for healthcare facilities to have clear protocols on the disposal of medical sharps to prevent incidents such as contamination or spread of infections, as highlighted by the clinical focus scenarios provided.