A nurse sustains a needlestick injury after giving an inject… | MyMerci
Accident/Error/Injury PreventionSIPC
Question
A nurse sustains a needlestick injury after giving an injection. What should the nurse do first?
1Wash the area with soap and water and follow the exposure reporting procedure.✓ Correct answer
2Finish the shift and report the injury at the end of the day.
3Apply a tourniquet above the puncture site.
4Ignore the injury if the needle appears clean.
Explanation
Immediate cleansing and prompt reporting are essential after a needlestick injury so exposure evaluation and postexposure management can begin. Waiting or ignoring the injury delays care. A tourniquet is not part of standard first response.
In-depth explanation
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.