Safety and ComplianceDifficulty 3/5
Beyond immediate first aid, what does the exposure control plan require after a needlestick?
- AImmediate disposal of every specimen collected earlier in that shift
- BWritten consent from the patient before any further action is taken
- CCompletion of the draw before the exposure is addressed or recorded
- DNotification and reporting according to the facility's needlestick protocol
Show answer and rationale
Correct: D. Knowledge statement k33 lists notification requirements, needlestick protocols and reporting as part of the exposure control plan. An exposure is a reportable event with a defined procedure, not simply an injury.
- A — Specimens already collected are unaffected by an exposure to the phlebotomist.
- B — Patient consent is not a precondition for the phlebotomist reporting their own exposure.
- C — Completing the draw first delays both treatment and the time-sensitive reporting steps.