Staff illness and resident contact

Question

A nursing assistant begins a shift with a runny nose, sore throat and frequent coughing, and is assigned to personal care for several frail residents. What is the best action?

1. AWork the assignment as usual, since a cold is a minor illness.✗ Incorrect

   Staff with a communicable illness can pass it to frail residents, who may become seriously ill.

2. BTell the nurse supervisor about the symptoms before starting care, because staff with a communicable illness should avoid direct resident contact.✓ Correct

   Correct. The supervisor decides how to protect residents, and direct contact is avoided when it can spread illness.

3. CPut on gloves and keep working without telling anyone.✗ Incorrect

   Gloves do not stop respiratory droplets, and hiding symptoms prevents the facility from protecting residents.

4. DSkip hand hygiene on this shift, since the germs are already in the air.✗ Incorrect

   Hand hygiene remains essential and would never be skipped.

Answer

B. Tell the nurse supervisor about the symptoms before starting care, because staff with a communicable illness should avoid direct resident contact.

Rationale

A nursing assistant with cold or flu-like symptoms can pass germs to residents, so the safest course is to stay away from hands-on care. Facilities ask staff to report symptoms to a supervisor, which lets the assignment be changed before any resident is exposed. Frail long-term care residents are at higher risk from respiratory infections.