A mercury-in-glass thermometer is being used in the extended care facility. While the nurse is taking the patient's temperature, the thermometer falls and breaks on the floor without coming into contact with the nurse or patient
Which of the following should be the nurse's first action? a. Remove the patient from the area.
b. Remove the patient's clothing.
c. Wash his or her hands, and bathe the patient.
d. Notify the environmental services department.
A
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A The nurse's first action should be to remove the patient from an immediate contaminated environment if no skin contact has occurred.
B After removing the patient from the area, the nurse should remove any clothing or linen that has been contaminated with mercury, using rubber gloves and placing the material in a plastic garbage bag.
C The nurse should perform hand hygiene thoroughly after changing any clothing or linen that has been contaminated with mercury. It is not required that the patient be bathed unless skin contact with the mercury has occurred. The first action of the nurse in this case is to remove the patient from the area.
D After first caring for the patient, the nurse should then notify the environmental services department or notify occupational health services to obtain a mercury spill kit.
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