Safety & ProfessionalismQuestion 97 of 100
A technician sustains a needlestick-free but bloody scratch from a broken bed rail while positioning a patient. What is the required response?
a.Finish the EKG and mention it at the end of the shift
b.Wash the area immediately, report the exposure incident to the supervisor at once, and follow the facility's post-exposure evaluation protocol
c.Cover it with a glove and continue with all patients
d.Document it in the patient's chart only
Explanation
The bloodborne pathogens standard requires that exposure incidents be washed immediately and reported without delay so the employer can provide a confidential medical evaluation and any indicated post-exposure follow-up, which is time-sensitive. Delaying the report until the shift ends can forfeit protection. Covering the wound and continuing risks both the technician and patients, and an employee exposure belongs in an incident report, not the patient's chart.
Law Reference: OSHA 29 CFR 1910.1030Practice all 100 questions free — no signup required.
Related questions on this topic
- Which instructions should a patient receive before a scheduled exercise stress test?
- An anxious patient is trembling and asks whether the EKG will shock her. What is the best response?
- A competent adult patient refuses to allow an ordered EKG. What should the technician do?
- A technician notices she wrote the wrong date on a completed paper EKG record. How should the correction be made?
- An outpatient's routine 12-lead shows a run of ventricular tachycardia, but the patient feels fine and asks to leave. What should the technician do?
- Which action best reflects professional behavior for an EKG technician?
Last reviewed: · editorial process
PrepPass Editorial Team · Verified against NHA Certified EKG Technician (CET) Exam · How we review