Health Science Safety Hazards

Handwashing is described as the single most important practice for:

• Preventing the spread of HIV
• Preventing the opportunistic infections
• Sterile technique
• Aseptic technique

Karla delivers a meal try to Mrs. Garcia. She moves Mrs. Garcia’s tissue box and magazine to the bedside table. As Karla leaves the room, what is the minimal hand hygiene required?

• Ask Mrs. James to spell her full name for you.
• Allow the water to evaporate
• A soiled dressing from a wound
• A wet disposable baby diaper

What is an example of a blood borne pathogen?

• Bend at the hips and knees with the back straight, get close to the box, and lift using the leg muscles.
• Be sure the wheels on the bed are not locked
• Ask why and then report Mr. Arnold’s refusal to your supervisor
• Bend at the waist to pick up the box, and then use the arm muscles to lift and bring the box close in to the body.

A dental assistant tears a glove when assisting a dentist with a patient who is HIV positive. What should the assistant do FIRST?

• Bend at the knees
• Call 911
• Elena must use good body mechanics
• Biohazard alert

Daniella arrives to work at the nursing home at 7:00 AM. After using the rest room, she takes the blood pressure and temperature of eight patients, and then goes on break at 7:45 AM to eat her yogurt. How many times should Daniella have practiced hand hygiene so far?

• Blood
• Chemical
• Eleven (11)
• Bottle of pills

While observing good body mechanics, how should a radiologic technologist move a portable x-ray machine to a patient’s room?

• Call housekeeping to clean up the spill
• Elena must be much thinner
• Food
• Complete an incident report

A medical office assistant and must take a heavy box from the floor to the storage room. How should they lift it?

• Check to be sure the bed is in its highest position
• Explain the procedure needing consent before you ask her to sign the form.
• Knock on the door before entering the room
• Diane must work much harder

Diane and Elena work at a nursing home and have similar patient care assignments. At the end of every shift, Diane is tired and her back and shoulders ache, while Elena feels good. What MOST LIKEY causes the difference?

• Elena must be much younger
• Explain to Mr. Arnold that if he does not do as you ask, he will never get better
• Notify your supervisor
• Dry the spill with a paper towel and re-wash your hands

You are getting ready to move a patient up in bed, and your supervisor tells you to broaden your base of support. You should:

• Flush your eyes with water
• Find your supervisor and tell him/her what you heard
• Pull the privacy curtains and place the call bell on the bedside table
• Go to the nurse’s station, call the room, and offer assistance

You are cleaning a patient’s dentures when some of the soaking solution splashes into your eye. What should you do FIRST?

• Gently guide Mr. Arnold to sit in the wheelchair
• Keep one leg straight and bend the other to get close to the box, and then lift while straightening the bent leg and bending the straight leg.
• Put a chair next to the box, kneel down, pick up the box and place it on the chair. Then stand and lift the box, holding it close to the chest.
• Have Mr. Arnold sign an “Against Medical Advice” refusal form