Question

The nurse is observing several healthcare workers providing care. Which action by the healthcare worker indicates a need for further teaching?

A. The nursing assistant wears gloves while giving the client a bath.
B. The nurse wears goggles while drawing blood from the client.
C. The doctor washes his hands before examining the client.
D. The nurse wears gloves to take the client's vital signs.

Answer 1

The nurse wearing gloves to take the client's vital signs needs further teaching, as gloves are generally not required for this task unless there is a risk of exposure to bodily fluids or the patient has specific precautions.

Step-by-step explanation:

The action by the healthcare worker that indicates a need for further teaching is D. The nurse wears gloves to take the client's vital signs. While personal protective equipment (PPE) such as gloves and goggles are important in preventing the spread of infection, they are each suited to specific tasks. For instance, gloves should be worn when there is a possibility of coming into contact with bodily fluids or contaminated surfaces, as when giving a patient a bath. Goggles are for protecting the eyes from splashes of bodily fluids, which can occur during procedures like drawing blood. Handwashing is a universally important infection control measure and should be performed before and after patient contact. However, wearing gloves for tasks that do not involve exposure to bodily fluids or potential contact with infectious agents, such as taking a patient's vital signs, is generally not necessary unless the patient is on certain types of precautions or there is another specific reason to do so.