Sandra arrived a little late this morning because her car wouldn't start. Although she usually checks the exam rooms for cleanliness before bringing a patient back to an exam room, the rooms are almost always in good shape, so she skips that step this morning. As she brings the first patient into the exam room, she notices an unidentifiable clear gel-like substance on the edge of the examining table. The paper cover is clean and fresh. What should Sandra do?

Question

A. Wipe up the substance with a tissue and assist the patient onto the examining table
B. Call the front desk and ask them to have housekeeping come and clean the table
C. Ask the patient to step back into the waiting area while she cleans up the table
D. Spray the substance with a disinfectant and tell the patient the physician will be in shortly
E. Notify her supervisor immediately that the room is not clean

Answer 1

C. Ask the patient to step back into the waiting area while she cleans up the table
Sandra has no way of knowing what the substance is or whether it is potentially infectious. She should ask the patient to step back into the waiting area and then use Standard Precautions to clean up the substance.