Healthcare Aide Safety & Infection Control Flashcards

A healthcare aide notices a resident has a wound that appears infected with purulent discharge. What is the FIRST action the aide should take?

Answer: Report the observation to the supervising nurse

Healthcare aides must report changes in a resident's condition, including signs of wound infection, to the supervising nurse immediately.

Which type of precaution requires the healthcare aide to wear a gown, gloves, and mask when entering a patient's room?

Answer: Droplet precautions

Droplet precautions require a mask (and gown and gloves) to prevent transmission of pathogens spread through large respiratory droplets.

A healthcare aide is preparing to assist a resident with a meal and notices the meal tray was delivered to the wrong room. What should the aide do?

Answer: Return the tray and get the correct one

Serving the wrong meal can cause dietary, allergy, or medical complications; the aide must return the tray and obtain the correct one.

When removing personal protective equipment (PPE) after caring for a patient on contact precautions, which item should be removed FIRST?

Answer: Gloves

Gloves are considered the most contaminated item and should be removed first to prevent self-contamination during PPE doffing.

A healthcare aide accidentally splashes body fluid into their eyes. What is the correct immediate response?

Answer: Flush eyes with water for at least 15 minutes and report the incident

Immediate eye irrigation with water for at least 15 minutes is required after any splash exposure, followed by incident reporting.

Which of the following is an example of a healthcare-associated infection (HAI)?

Answer: A patient develops a urinary tract infection after catheter insertion in the facility

HAIs are infections that patients acquire during the course of receiving healthcare treatment, such as a catheter-associated UTI.

A healthcare aide is making an occupied bed and finds soiled linen. What is the safest way to handle it?

Answer: Roll soiled surfaces inward and place in a designated linen hamper without shaking

Soiled linen should be rolled inward to contain contaminants and placed directly in a hamper; shaking disperses pathogens into the air.