A nurse is observing an assistive personnel (AP) take a client's tympanic temperature.
Which of the following actions should the nurse identify as an indication that the AP understands how to perform the procedure?

Choice A rationale:

Hydrogen peroxide. Hydrogen peroxide is not the recommended solution for disinfecting surfaces following a blood spill. While it can be used to clean wounds and may have some disinfectant properties, it is not as effective as bleach in destroying bloodborne pathogens.

Choice B rationale:

Bleach. Bleach is the appropriate choice for disinfecting surfaces contaminated with blood. A 10% bleach solution (1 part bleach to 9 parts water) is effective at killing bloodborne pathogens such as HIV and hepatitis B and C viruses. It should be used in healthcare settings to ensure proper disinfection after a blood spill.

Choice C rationale:

Isopropyl alcohol. Isopropyl alcohol is an effective disinfectant for some purposes, but it may not be as effective as bleach against bloodborne pathogens. It is commonly used for cleaning and disinfecting skin before medical procedures but is not the recommended choice for disinfecting surfaces following a blood spill.

Choice D rationale:

Chlorhexidine. Chlorhexidine is an antiseptic solution often used for skin disinfection before surgical procedures or invasive medical interventions. It is not typically used for disinfecting surfaces contaminated with blood.

The correct answer is: B. Determine the acuity and number of casualties arriving at the facility.

Choice A rationale: Assisting in discharging stable clients to home is important but not the primary focus during the immediate response to a mass casualty event.

Choice B rationale: Determining the acuity and number of casualties arriving at the facility is crucial in a mass casualty event. This involves assessing the severity of injuries and prioritizing care based on urgency, ensuring that the most critical patients receive immediate attention.

Choice C rationale: Delegating tasks to emergency health care specialists is typically the responsibility of team leaders or incident command staff, not the medical-surgical unit nurses.

Choice D rationale: Providing informational updates to members of the media is generally managed by hospital administration or public relations staff, not by medical-surgical nurses.