A nurse is preparing to administer a hazardous IV medication to a client. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?
A.
Wear gloves when handling the medication.
B.
Administer the medication in a negative pressure room.
C.
Administer the medication while wearing protective footwear.
D.
Wear an N95 respiratory mask when administering the medication.
The correct answer and Explanation is :
The correct answer is A. Wear gloves when handling the medication.
When administering hazardous medications, nurses must prioritize safety precautions to protect both themselves and their patients. Hazardous drugs include chemotherapy agents, antivirals, and other substances that can be toxic. While all of the choices provided involve safety precautions, only wearing gloves is consistently required when handling hazardous IV medications, regardless of the drug type.
Rationale:
A. Wear gloves when handling the medication.
Wearing appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) is crucial when handling hazardous medications. Gloves protect the nurse’s skin from direct contact with potentially harmful substances. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and other health guidelines mandate that gloves be worn when preparing, administering, and disposing of hazardous drugs. Double gloving or using thicker, chemo-rated gloves is often recommended for additional protection, depending on the medication.
B. Administer the medication in a negative pressure room.
Negative pressure rooms are primarily used for airborne infection isolation, not necessarily for administering hazardous drugs. These rooms are designed to prevent the escape of infectious airborne particles, which isn’t typically relevant when administering IV medications.
C. Administer the medication while wearing protective footwear.
Protective footwear isn’t a standard requirement when administering IV hazardous medications. While footwear is important in many healthcare settings, the specific risks of hazardous drugs primarily involve skin and respiratory exposure rather than foot exposure.
D. Wear an N95 respiratory mask when administering the medication.
An N95 mask would be necessary if the medication is aerosolized or poses a respiratory hazard. However, most IV medications don’t require N95 masks unless they have a risk of becoming airborne. For IV drugs, the risk is generally through contact with the skin or mucous membranes, not inhalation.
Thus, wearing gloves is the most appropriate and universally required action when handling hazardous IV medications.