What precaution must a technician take to avoid a needle-stick injury?

What precaution must a technician take to avoid a needle-stick injury?

• A. Recap the needle after use to prevent needlestick injuries.
• B. Never recap a needle, do not carry uncapped needles long distances, and empty the sharps container when it is 3/4 full.
• C. Carry uncapped needles long distances between rooms to save time.
• D. Use the same needle for multiple patients.

Answer: (B)

The main idea here is preventing needle-stick injuries through safe needle handling and disposal. Never recapping a used needle reduces the chance of a sudden puncture while you’re trying to place the cap back on. Recapping is a common moment for injuries, especially if the needle is still sharp and you’re distracted or the cap doesn’t go on smoothly. Transporting uncapped needles long distances raises the risk that someone else or you might accidentally touch the needle and be punctured. And keeping a sharps container from getting too full is important because overfilled containers are harder to close safely and increases exposure risk when disposing of needles. That’s why the best practice is to avoid recapping, not carry uncapped needles, and discard into a sharps container before it reaches about three-quarters full. Reusing a needle for multiple patients is a separate, serious safety and infection risk and should never be done.

The main idea here is preventing needle-stick injuries through safe needle handling and disposal. Never recapping a used needle reduces the chance of a sudden puncture while you’re trying to place the cap back on. Recapping is a common moment for injuries, especially if the needle is still sharp and you’re distracted or the cap doesn’t go on smoothly. Transporting uncapped needles long distances raises the risk that someone else or you might accidentally touch the needle and be punctured. And keeping a sharps container from getting too full is important because overfilled containers are harder to close safely and increases exposure risk when disposing of needles. That’s why the best practice is to avoid recapping, not carry uncapped needles, and discard into a sharps container before it reaches about three-quarters full.

Reusing a needle for multiple patients is a separate, serious safety and infection risk and should never be done.