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When should the nurse apply standard precautions during patient care?
Asked on Oct 23, 2025
Answer
Standard precautions are a set of infection prevention practices that nurses should apply to all patient care, regardless of the patient's diagnosis or infection status. These precautions are essential for minimizing the risk of transmission of pathogens.
Example Concept: Standard precautions include hand hygiene, use of personal protective equipment (PPE) such as gloves and masks, and safe injection practices. They are applied whenever there is potential contact with blood, body fluids, non-intact skin, or mucous membranes. This approach ensures the safety of both healthcare providers and patients by preventing the spread of infections.
Additional Comment:
- Hand hygiene is the most critical component of standard precautions and should be performed before and after patient contact.
- Use gloves when touching blood, body fluids, secretions, excretions, and contaminated items.
- Masks and eye protection should be used if there is a risk of splashes or sprays of blood or body fluids.
- Standard precautions are part of the broader infection control strategy that includes transmission-based precautions for specific infections.
- Always educate patients and visitors about the importance of infection control measures.
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