On a visit to a street clinic, you find used syringes in a washroom. What initial action should you take?

On a visit to a street clinic, you find used syringes in a washroom. What initial action should you take?

• A. Wear protective clothing and dispose of needles in a puncture-proof container.
• B. Place a puncture-proof sharps container in the bathroom.
• C. Contact the police and municipal authorities.
• D. Ask the client whom the nurse suspects left the needles and syringes to dispose of them.

Answer: (A)

Encountering used syringes in a washroom presents a real risk of needle-stick injuries and exposure to bloodborne pathogens. The immediate priority is your safety and containing the hazard. Put on protective clothing, such as gloves, and dispose of the needles in a puncture‑proof sharps container. This combination protects your skin from contact, reduces the chance of injury, and ensures the sharps are contained and disposed of properly. Taking action to contact authorities or asking the client to dispose shifts focus away from immediate safety and doesn’t directly reduce the risk. Merely placing a container in the bathroom without first donning PPE leaves you vulnerable to exposure and injury.

Encountering used syringes in a washroom presents a real risk of needle-stick injuries and exposure to bloodborne pathogens. The immediate priority is your safety and containing the hazard. Put on protective clothing, such as gloves, and dispose of the needles in a puncture‑proof sharps container. This combination protects your skin from contact, reduces the chance of injury, and ensures the sharps are contained and disposed of properly. Taking action to contact authorities or asking the client to dispose shifts focus away from immediate safety and doesn’t directly reduce the risk. Merely placing a container in the bathroom without first donning PPE leaves you vulnerable to exposure and injury.