Safety & ComplianceQuestion 44 of 100
Droplet precautions are ordered for a patient with suspected pertussis. What does the phlebotomist do?
a.Wear no PPE because droplets fall quickly to the ground
b.Wear a fit-tested N95 and place the patient in negative pressure
c.Wear a gown but no facial protection
d.Wear a surgical mask when working within about three to six feet of the patient
Explanation
Droplet precautions call for a surgical mask on close approach, since respiratory droplets travel only a short distance before settling. Negative pressure rooms and N95 respirators are used for airborne organisms, not droplet spread. A gown alone leaves mucous membranes unprotected, and the fact that droplets settle is exactly why close-range protection is needed.
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