Question

Case 1 A female phlebotomist works alone in an outpatient clinic. It is almost time for lunch when a patient arrives for a blood test. The phlebotomist is flustered because she has a special date for lunch. She is dressed up for the occasion, wearing a nice dress and high heels. She looks nice except for a large scratch on her left wrist that she got while playing with her cat this morning. She quickly draws the patient’s blood. As she turns to put the specimen in a rack, she slips and falls. One of the tubes breaks. She does not get cut, but blood splashes everywhere, including her left wrist. 1. What is the first thing the phlebotomist should do? 2. How did the phlebotomist’s actions contribute to this accident? 3. What should she have done that might have prevented the exposure, despite the tube’s breaking? 4. What type of exposure did she receive?

Answer 1

1. The phlebotomist should wash the area exposed to the patient's blood.

2. She was in a hurry.

3. Having her scratch covered with a dressing.

4. bloodborne pathogen