Which of the following actions should a phlebotomist take when interacting with a patient who has a "Contact Precautions" sign on their door?
Don a gown prior to entering the patient's room and remove it before leaving the room.
Don a face shield prior to entering the patient's room and remove it after leaving the room.
Don a mask prior to entering the patient's room and remove it before leaving the room.
Don gloves after cleaning and evaluating the patient's venipuncture site.
The Correct Answer is A
Choice A Reason:
When a patient is under "Contact Precautions," it is recommended that healthcare workers don a gown upon entering the patient's room. This is to prevent the spread of infection through contact with the patient or their environment. The gown should be removed before leaving the room to avoid contaminating other areas.
Choice B Reason:
While a face shield may be necessary for certain procedures, it is not specifically required for "Contact Precautions." The primary concern with contact precautions is preventing the transmission of infections through touch, not through droplets, which is what a face shield would protect against.
Choice C Reason:
Donning a mask is not a standard requirement for "Contact Precautions" unless there is a risk of droplet transmission. In this scenario, the precautions are specifically for contact, and therefore, a mask alone would not be sufficient.
Choice D Reason:
Gloves should be donned before any potential contact with the patient or their immediate environment, not just after cleaning and evaluating the venipuncture site. Gloves are a critical component of PPE when dealing with patients under "Contact Precautions."
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
Choice A Reason:
SST, or Serum Separator Tube, contains a gel at the bottom to separate the blood from the serum upon centrifugation. It does not indicate plasma; rather, it is used to collect serum after the blood has clotted. The SST allows for the blood to clot and the serum to be separated for various tests that require serum instead of plasma.
Choice B Reason:
Sodium fluoride is a common additive in collection tubes that serves as a glycolysis inhibitor. It preserves glucose levels and is not specifically indicative of serum. However, it is often used in grey-top tubes, which are typically used for glucose testing and may contain plasma, not serum.
Choice C Reason:
Sodium citrate is an anticoagulant that binds calcium in the blood, preventing clotting. Tubes with sodium citrate are used to collect plasma for coagulation studies, not serum. Therefore, this statement is incorrect as sodium citrate indicates plasma, not serum.
Choice D Reason:
EDTA, or Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, is an anticoagulant that binds calcium ions, preventing blood from clotting. Tubes with EDTA are used for collecting plasma because they prevent clotting and allow for the separation of plasma from the blood cells upon centrifugation. This is the correct choice as EDTA indicates plasma.
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
Choice A reason:
Heparin is an anticoagulant, not a clot activator. It works by inhibiting thrombin and preventing the conversion of fibrinogen to fibrin, thus preventing clot formation. It is commonly found in green-top tubes and is suitable for collecting plasma samples for tests like electrolyte levels and coagulation studies.
Choice B reason:
Oxalate is also an anticoagulant that prevents clotting by precipitating calcium. It is not used to promote clot formation but rather to maintain a blood sample in a non-coagulated state for various tests.
Choice C reason:
Citrate functions similarly to heparin and oxalate as an anticoagulant. It chelates calcium ions in the blood, inhibiting the coagulation process. Citrate is often used in blue-top tubes and is ideal for collecting plasma samples for coagulation studies.
Choice D reason:
Silica is a clot activator. It is commonly used in serum separator tubes (SSTs) with a gold or red speckled top. The silica particles provide a surface for the rapid formation of the clot, allowing for the separation of serum from the blood cells. This is essential when serum is needed for testing.
Whether you are a student looking to ace your exams or a practicing nurse seeking to enhance your expertise , our nursing education contents will empower you with the confidence and competence to make a difference in the lives of patients and become a respected leader in the healthcare field.
Visit Naxlex, invest in your future and unlock endless possibilities with our unparalleled nursing education contents today