Fundamentals of Nursing
A home health nurse has entered a home to complete an admission assessment on a patient who has a…
A home health nurse has entered a home to complete an admission assessment on a patient who has a methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) urinary tract infection. The patient will receive intravenous anti-infective via a peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) for 3 weeks. Which of the following actions should the nurse take FIRST?
Explanation
Core Concept: Infection control and standard precautions in home health nursing. Hand hygiene is the single most effective measure to prevent the transmission of infections like MRSA.
Clinical Presentation:
- N/A (Procedural question).
Diagnosis:
- First-line diagnostic tool: N/A.
- Most accurate (gold standard) test: N/A.
Management:
- Acute management: Perform hand hygiene immediately upon entering the patient's home and before any patient contact or handling equipment.
- Definitive management: Adhere to contact precautions (gloves, gowns) when dealing with MRSA, and maintain a clean environment.