A nurse noticed a nursing assistant entering the room of a patient with tuberculosis. Which action by the nursing assistant demonstrates a need for education on airborne precautions?

Explanation

•Patients with TB need to be in isolation using airborne precautions. Anyone entering the room needs to wear an N95 respirator at the minimum, but if there is a risk of any contact with sprayed respiratory fluids (including coughing) personal protective equipment (PPE) such as a gown, gloves, and eye protection should also be worn.

•The CDC currently recommends the use of N95 or higher level respirators for personnel exposed to patients with suspected or confirmed TB. Surgical masks do not provide sufficient protection and should not be confused with particulate respirators (including N95 masks) that are used to prevent inhalation of small particles transmitted by the airborne route.

•Equipment taken into the room needs to stay in the room.  Dedicated equipment must be disposable or disinfected according to a respiratory protection program that meets OSHA standards.

•Removal of protective equipment followed immediately by hand hygiene should always be done before exiting the room.  The removal of the N95 respirator should occur after removing other PPE after exiting the room and be followed immediately by hand hygiene.

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