A nurse is preparing to perform hand hygiene with an alcohol-based hand sanitizer. Which of the following actions should the nurse plan to take?

1. Remove protective gown before removing gloves.

When caring for a client with Clostridium Difficile, it is important to follow strict contact precautions to prevent the spread of the bacteria. The nurse should remove the protective gown before removing gloves to avoid contaminating the gown with any bacteria that may be on the gloves. This helps to minimize the risk of spreading the bacteria to other clients or healthcare workers.

1. Shake bed linens before placing them in a linen bag.

Shaking bed linens can cause any bacteria that may be on them to become airborne, increasing the risk of spreading the bacteria to other surfaces. Instead, bed linens should be rolled up and placed directly into a linen bag without shaking them.

1. Use an electronic thermometer to take the client's temperature.

An electronic thermometer is preferred when taking the temperature of a client with Clostridium Difficile because it can be easily disinfected between uses, reducing the risk of spreading the bacteria.

1. Remove protective gloves when leaving the client's room.

Protective gloves should be removed before leaving the client's room to avoid contaminating other surfaces or spreading the bacteria to other clients or healthcare workers.

When caring for a client who has an irregular heart rate, the nurse should auscultate the client’s apical pulse to accurately assess their heart rate1. An electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG) may also be used to measure the timing and duration of each electrical phase in the heartbeat