Editing Infection Control and Safety – RN Flashcards (section)

== Program, Outbreak, and Delegation ==

;What are the first steps when a cluster of infections is identified on a unit?
:Confirm cases and define a case, '''notify infection prevention and public health when required''', institute appropriate precautions immediately, '''cohort clients and staff''', build a line list and epidemic curve to find the common exposure by person, place, and time, intensify cleaning with an effective agent, exclude ill staff, and evaluate the effect on the case rate.
;Why is antimicrobial stewardship an infection control intervention?
:Antibiotic exposure is the dominant modifiable risk factor for '''''C. difficile''''' and for the emergence of multidrug-resistant organisms. Reducing unnecessary and overly broad therapy attacks the '''infectious agent''' link.
;How is a device-associated infection rate expressed?
:'''Infections per 1,000 device days''', which adjusts for how much the device was used and allows comparison over time and across units.
;What is the reference standard for measuring hand hygiene compliance?
:'''Direct observation of hand hygiene opportunities''', ideally trended alongside infection outcomes. Product volume is an indirect proxy and self-report overestimates compliance.
;What may the RN never delegate in this subject?
:'''Assessment, initial teaching, evaluation of outcomes, and nursing judgment about an unstable client''', including the decision to initiate precautions and the required assessments surrounding restraint use. Tasks such as transport, hygiene, vital signs, and applying PPE may be delegated with clear instruction.

[[Category:Infection Control and Safety]]
[[Category:Registered Nurse (NCLEX-RN)]]
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