When a nurse accidentally tears a glove while changing linens for a client diagnosed with Clostridium difficile, what is the first action?

When a nurse accidentally tears a glove while changing linens for a client diagnosed with Clostridium difficile, what is the first action?

• A. Wipe hands with a bleaching agent
• B. Rub hands with alcohol
• C. Apply pressure to prevent bleeding
• D. Wash hands with soap and water

Answer: (D)

When a nurse accidentally tears a glove while changing linens for a client diagnosed with Clostridium difficile (C. diff), the first action required is to wash hands with soap and water. This is essential because C. diff is a spore-forming bacterium that can be resistant to alcohol-based hand sanitizers and requires thorough handwashing with soap and water to effectively remove the spores. The immediate washing of hands is crucial in ensuring that any potential contamination from the glove is eliminated before the nurse continues with any further care or procedures. This practice helps prevent the transmission of the infection to other clients or surfaces in the healthcare environment. While other options may seem relevant, they do not provide the same level of effectiveness against the spores of C. difficile. For example, using alcohol rub will not eliminate C. diff spores, and a bleaching agent is also not appropriate as a first action in this situation. Applying pressure to prevent bleeding, while important in scenarios of bleeding, is not applicable here since tearing a glove does not pose a risk of bleeding in this context. Therefore, washing hands with soap and water is the most effective and appropriate first action in this scenario.

When a nurse accidentally tears a glove while changing linens for a client diagnosed with Clostridium difficile (C. diff), the first action required is to wash hands with soap and water. This is essential because C. diff is a spore-forming bacterium that can be resistant to alcohol-based hand sanitizers and requires thorough handwashing with soap and water to effectively remove the spores.

The immediate washing of hands is crucial in ensuring that any potential contamination from the glove is eliminated before the nurse continues with any further care or procedures. This practice helps prevent the transmission of the infection to other clients or surfaces in the healthcare environment.

While other options may seem relevant, they do not provide the same level of effectiveness against the spores of C. difficile. For example, using alcohol rub will not eliminate C. diff spores, and a bleaching agent is also not appropriate as a first action in this situation. Applying pressure to prevent bleeding, while important in scenarios of bleeding, is not applicable here since tearing a glove does not pose a risk of bleeding in this context. Therefore, washing hands with soap and water is the most effective and appropriate first action in this scenario.