PCA Health & Safety Protocols 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A PCA notices a client's skin is red and broken down under a medical device. What is the priority action?
- Apply lotion and cover with a bandage
- Reposition the device and report the skin breakdown to the supervisor immediately (Correct answer)
- Remove the device entirely until the skin heals
- Document the finding in personal notes and monitor for a week
Correct answer: Reposition the device and report the skin breakdown to the supervisor immediately
Skin breakdown under a medical device must be reported to the supervisor immediately so a nurse can assess and adjust the care plan.
Question 2: Which hand hygiene method is most effective when a client has a confirmed C. difficile infection?
- Alcohol-based hand sanitizer for at least 20 seconds
- Soap and water for at least 20 seconds (Correct answer)
- Antiseptic wipes followed by hand sanitizer
- Quick rinse with water between tasks
Correct answer: Soap and water for at least 20 seconds
C. difficile spores are not killed by alcohol-based sanitizers, so soap and water for at least 20 seconds is required.
Question 3: When donning PPE to care for a client on droplet precautions, what is the correct order?
- Gloves, gown, mask, eye protection
- Gown, mask, eye protection, gloves (Correct answer)
- Mask, gloves, gown, eye protection
- Eye protection, gown, gloves, mask
Correct answer: Gown, mask, eye protection, gloves
The correct donning order is gown first, then mask, eye protection, and finally gloves to protect the face before the hands.
Question 4: A client on a fluid restriction accidentally drinks an extra 8 oz of water. What should the PCA do?
- Withhold all fluids for the rest of the day to compensate
- Note the amount and report it to the supervisor right away (Correct answer)
- Encourage extra movement to use up the fluid
- Say nothing because 8 oz is a small amount
Correct answer: Note the amount and report it to the supervisor right away
Fluid overages in restricted clients must be reported immediately so the care team can monitor for complications such as edema.
Question 5: A PCA is assigned to a client who has scabies. Which precaution type is required?
- Droplet precautions
- Airborne precautions
- Contact precautions (Correct answer)
- Standard precautions only
Correct answer: Contact precautions
Scabies is transmitted by direct skin contact, so contact precautions including gown and gloves are required.
Question 6: What is the safest way for a PCA to remove contaminated gloves to avoid self-contamination?
- Pull both gloves off simultaneously from the fingertips
- Peel the first glove from the wrist turning it inside out, then slide fingers under the second glove cuff and peel it off (Correct answer)
- Use scissors to cut the gloves off at the wrist
- Remove gloves after washing hands with soap and water
Correct answer: Peel the first glove from the wrist turning it inside out, then slide fingers under the second glove cuff and peel it off
The standard glove removal technique contains contamination inside the glove and keeps bare hands from touching the outer surface.
Question 7: A PCA accidentally splashes blood on their eyes while performing personal care. What is the first action?
- Notify the supervisor and complete an incident report
- Flush the eyes with clean running water or saline for at least 15 minutes immediately (Correct answer)
- Apply antibiotic eye drops and monitor for redness
- Cover the eyes and seek medical attention the next morning
Correct answer: Flush the eyes with clean running water or saline for at least 15 minutes immediately
Immediate flushing of the eyes for at least 15 minutes is the first step after a mucous membrane blood exposure.
PCA Health & Safety Protocols 2
A PCA notices a client's skin is red and broken down under a medical device.
What is the priority action?