Scenario

A patient is admitted to your unit with the diagnosis of electrolyte imbalance. They have had diarrhea for
two days.
Answer the following questions using the policy and algorithm.
1. Would you suspect this patient has a communicable disease?
If so, what? Possibly.

-The patient may have organisms that can be transmitted by direct contact
with the patient or with the patients environment.
2. Can the nurse delegate that you place this patient in isolation precautions based up symptoms without
a physician order?
If so, what type? -Yes.

Contact Plus Isolation Precaution

3. Who should the nurse notify prior to discontinuing any isolation precautions whether they have a
physician order or not. -Infection

Prevention

4. What do you use for your hand hygiene with this patient?

-Soap and water when exiting the room

5. What type of wipes do you use to clean equipment before removing the equipment from the room?

-Utilize hospital-approved one step cleaner per manufacturers guidelines

General Questions
6. Influenza requires what type of isolation?

-Droplet Isolation Precautions

7. What do you wear if a patient is in droplet precautions?

-Wear yellow surgical mask, or mask with eye shield; gown and gloves if expected to come in
contact with secretions.
8. If a patient in contact isolation and has to go to radiology in the bed, what must first be done to the
bed?

-Wipe down the bed rails and handles of the bed by using appropriate hospital-approved
cleaner.

Scenario

A patient presents to you with complaints of a respiratory illness. They have a severe
cough. You take their information and have them take a seat in the waiting room.
1. What do you do to prevent spread of this suspected communicable disease while the
patient is waiting with other people?
- Surgical Mask placed on patient on waiting room
2. What type of isolation precautions should be continued in the patient care area?
- Droplet Isolation Precaution
3. If a patient has a history of a drug resistant organism, there will be an infection Alert
at the top of their Care Path chart. What needs to happen if the patient is admitted to
the hospital? Place in Isolation Precautions. If patient is asymptomatic, notify floor nurse during handoff.
General Questions
4. When caring for a patient with an open or draining wound, what PPE should the
nurse wear?
- Gloves and gown when entering room
5. If a patient is being transported to your area by his or her bed, what precautions
should have been put in place prior to transport?
- The nurse should have alerted the receiving department regarding patients isolation
precaution status.
6. All illnesses with diarrhea should be treated as a communicable disease. How
should the room be cleaned after discharge?
- Must use bleach products for cleaning items in the room
7. While caring for the patient with diarrhea, what type of isolation precaution should be
used?
- Contact Plus Isolation Precaution