A nurse is teaching a newly licensed nurse about reducing the risk of needlestick injuries. Which of the following instructions should the nurse include?

A. The water temperature for handwashing should be comfortable and tolerable for the hands. Hot water can be drying to the skin and may not necessarily improve the effectiveness of hand hygiene. Ideally, the water temperature should be warm, but not uncomfortably hot or cold, to encourage thorough handwashing.
B. The amount of soap used for handwashing is important for effective cleaning. Applying 4 to 5 mL (approximately a teaspoon) of liquid soap ensures adequate coverage to create lather and effectively cleanse the hands. Too little soap may not produce enough lather to clean effectively, while too much may be wasteful.
C. During hand hygiene, it's recommended to keep the hands lower than the elbows to prevent water from running from the contaminated area (hands) to the cleaner area (elbows). This helps maintain hygiene and prevents potential contamination of the cleaned hands.
D. After washing hands with soap and water, it's important to dry them thoroughly. However, rubbing hands and arms to dry is not recommended. Instead, hands should be dried using a clean towel or paper towel. Rubbing can cause friction and potential irritation to the skin.

A. An N-95 respirator is designed to filter out airborne particles and is used primarily for protection against airborne diseases such as tuberculosis or certain respiratory infections like COVID-19. It is not necessary for contact precautions unless there is also a risk of airborne transmission.

B. Goggles protect the eyes from splashes, sprays, or droplets of infectious material. They are not typically required for routine contact precautions unless there is a risk of splashes or sprays to the eyes.
C. Gloves are essential for contact precautions. They protect the nurse's hands from direct contact with potentially infectious material on the client's bed linen or any contaminated surfaces. Gloves should be worn when handling soiled linen and removed and discarded appropriately after use.
D. A face shield provides full-face protection against splashes, sprays, or splatters of infectious material. It is particularly useful when there is a risk of exposure to bodily fluids or during procedures that may generate splashes. While not always required for routine contact precautions, it may be used depending on the specific situation, such as when cleaning surfaces heavily contaminated with body fluids.