Safety & Infection ControlQuestion 45 of 200

A CNA is accidentally stuck by a discarded needle while making a bed. The first action is:

a.Continue working and report at end of shift
b.Wash the area immediately with soap and water, report to the supervisor without delay, and follow the facility's post-exposure protocol including baseline labs and prophylaxis as indicated
c.Apply a bandage and forget about it
d.Squeeze the area to make it bleed for several minutes

Explanation

OSHA Bloodborne Pathogen Standard requires immediate post-exposure response: wash area with soap and water (or flush mucous membranes with water/saline), report to supervisor immediately, complete an incident report, and access post-exposure evaluation (source-patient testing, baseline labs, possible HIV/HBV prophylaxis per CDC guidance—within hours). Delay (a, c) reduces prophylaxis effectiveness; aggressive squeezing (d) is not recommended and may worsen tissue damage.

Law Reference: OSHA 29 CFR §1910.1030; needlestick policy

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