A sealed source from a client's temporary low-dose-rate brachytherapy implant becomes dislodged onto the bed linen. Which action should the nurse take?

Control a dislodged sealed brachytherapy source with emergency radiation-safety equipment. Trained staff use remote tools and a shielded container, restrict access, and notify the radiation safety team. Direct contact, improvised transport, or reinsertion increases exposure and loss-of-source risk.

Quick answer
Use the designated remote handling tool and shielded container, then activate the radiation emergency procedure.

Why this is correct
Distance and shielding reduce occupational exposure while the source is secured and accounted for. The prepared emergency equipment allows control without touching the radioactive source or carrying contaminated linens through the unit.

Easy analogy or mental picture
Remote tools and a shielded container work like tongs and a heatproof box for a dangerously hot object. The mapping is distance and shielding; radiation cannot be judged by visible heat, so formal monitoring and source accountability are still required.

Memory hook
Dislodged radiation source: distance, remote tool, shielded container, notify.

NCLEX decision rule
For a dislodged sealed brachytherapy source, never touch or reinsert it by hand; secure it with approved remote equipment and follow the radiation-safety emergency plan.

Why the other choices are wrong
Gloves do not shield penetrating radiation. Carrying loose linens can spread the hazard, and pushing the source back is an unauthorized procedure that can expose the client and staff.

Clinical Practice Guide
For Orthostatic hypotension fall risk, 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.