Clean Needle Technique and Safety Flashcards
7 cards from real ACC practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Clean Needle Technique and Safety flashcards as text
When performing acupuncture near the lung apex (e.g., GB 21 or SI 15), what safety consideration is paramount?
Answer: Angling the needle away from the lung and limiting insertion depth to avoid pneumothorax
Points near the lung apex carry a risk of pneumothorax; needles must be angled away from the lung and inserted to a safe, shallow depth to prevent pleural puncture.
A patient discloses they are taking warfarin (Coumadin). Which CNT-related precaution is most important?
Answer: Use the thinnest gauge needles available and apply prolonged pressure after needle removal
Anticoagulant therapy increases bleeding risk, so thinner needles and prolonged post-removal pressure minimize hematoma formation without requiring treatment cancellation.
Which post-treatment observation would most immediately suggest a serious adverse event requiring medical referral?
Answer: Sudden shortness of breath, pleuritic chest pain, and decreased breath sounds after thoracic needling
Sudden dyspnea, pleuritic chest pain, and diminished breath sounds following thoracic acupuncture are classic signs of pneumothorax and require immediate emergency referral.
What is the purpose of maintaining a clean field (sterile zone) around the insertion site during treatment?
Answer: To prevent recontamination of the prepared skin surface prior to needle insertion
Maintaining a clean field ensures the antiseptically prepared skin is not recontaminated by the practitioner's hands, clothing, or other objects before needle insertion.
Under OSHA regulations, what is a practitioner's responsibility if a patient's blood contacts the practitioner's intact skin?
Answer: Wash the area immediately with soap and water and report the exposure per the facility protocol
Even with intact skin contact involving blood, OSHA requires the area to be washed and the incident to be reported per the workplace Exposure Control Plan for proper follow-up evaluation.
What does the term 'engineering control' mean in the context of acupuncture needlestick prevention?
Answer: Physical devices or equipment that isolate the hazard, such as sharps containers and needle safety devices
Engineering controls are physical mechanisms — like puncture-resistant sharps containers or retractable needle devices — that reduce exposure risk by eliminating or isolating the hazard at its source.
Which practice is required to verify that a sharps container is ready for final disposal?
Answer: Sealing the container permanently according to the manufacturer's instructions and labeling it as biohazardous waste
When a sharps container reaches capacity, it must be sealed per manufacturer instructions and clearly labeled as biohazardous waste before being transferred for regulated medical waste disposal.