Question

Which action by the healthcare worker indicates a need for further teaching?

The nursing assistant ambulates the elderly client using a gait belt.
The nurse wears goggles while performing a venipuncture.
The nurse washes his hands after changing a dressing.
The nurse wears gloves to monitor the IV infusion rate.

Answer 1

The healthcare worker needs further teaching regarding hand hygiene, as wearing gloves to monitor an IV rate without expecting contact with bodily fluids is unnecessary and not a replacement for proper handwashing.

Step-by-step explanation:

The action by the healthcare worker that indicates a need for further teaching is the nurse wearing gloves to monitor the IV infusion rate. This is unnecessary unless the nurse is expecting to come into contact with blood, bodily fluids, or if the patient is on isolation precautions. Proper hand hygiene practices are crucial in healthcare settings to prevent the spread of infections. Wearing gloves is not a substitute for handwashing, and healthcare workers must wash their hands thoroughly after removing gloves and in between patient contacts. The CDC guidelines for hand hygiene specify occasions before and after various patient interactions when handwashing is essential to minimize the risk of transmitting pathogens.

In summary, the nurse should practice hand hygiene before and after interacting with patients or patient equipment, especially when contact with body fluids is not expected, as in the case of simply monitoring an IV infusion rate.