A nurse sustains a needlestick injury after giving an inject… | MyMerci
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Accident/Error/Injury PreventionSIPC
Question
A nurse sustains a needlestick injury after giving an injection. What should the nurse do first?
1Encourage bleeding by gently squeezing the site before washing with soap.
2Continue working if the needle appears clean and there is no visible blood.
3Wash the area with soap and water and follow the exposure reporting procedure.✓ Correct answer
4Complete the current shift and inform the supervisor at the end of the day.
Explanation
Immediate cleansing with soap and water and prompt reporting are essential after a needlestick injury to evaluate exposure and begin postexposure management. Option 1 is incorrect because squeezing the site can increase the risk of infection and is not recommended in current guidelines. Option 2 is incorrect because a needle that appears clean may still be contaminated with bloodborne pathogens; exposure must be reported immediately. Option 4 is incorrect because delaying reporting until the end of the shift can delay necessary evaluation and prophylaxis, increasing the risk of seroconversion. Therefore, the correct action is to wash the area with soap and water and follow the exposure reporting procedure.
Clinical Judgment Use the client cues, timing, labs, and safety risks to select the response that best fits Needlestick exposure.
Memory Tip Match the strongest cue cluster to the safest nursing judgment.
KR vs US NCLEX items reward cue-based priority thinking rather than isolated recall.
Clinical scenario
Clinical Practice Guide For Needlestick exposure, compare the complete cue pattern with the client's current stability, ordered data, and expected nursing scope.
Caution Do not choose an action from one isolated cue when the full scenario changes priority or safety.
Key concepts
Needlestick Injury — A puncture wound from a needle that may expose a worker to bloodborne pathogens.
Postexposure Management — Evaluation and interventions after potential exposure to infectious material.
Bloodborne Pathogen — A microorganism transmitted through blood or certain body fluids.