Standard Precautions (Nursing)
Standard precautions are a set of infection control practices used with ALL patients regardless of diagnosis or infection status. They include hand hygiene, use of personal protective equipment (PPE), safe injection practices, respiratory hygiene, and proper handling of contaminated equipment and surfaces.
Exam Tip
Hand hygiene = #1 infection control measure. Standard precautions apply to ALL patients, ALL settings. Apply to ALL body fluids EXCEPT sweat. Know the 3 transmission-based precautions: Contact (gown+gloves), Droplet (surgical mask), Airborne (N95 + negative pressure). Do NOT recap needles.
What Are Standard Precautions in Nursing?
Standard precautions (formerly called universal precautions) are the minimum infection prevention practices that apply to all patient care, regardless of suspected or confirmed infection status. They are based on the principle that all blood, body fluids, secretions, excretions (except sweat), non-intact skin, and mucous membranes may contain transmissible infectious agents.
Core Components of Standard Precautions
| Component | Practice |
|---|---|
| Hand hygiene | Wash with soap and water or use alcohol-based hand rub before and after patient contact, after glove removal, between tasks |
| Gloves | Wear when touching blood, body fluids, mucous membranes, or non-intact skin |
| Gown | Wear when clothing may contact blood or body fluids |
| Mask/Eye protection | Wear when splashes or sprays of blood or body fluids are possible |
| Respiratory hygiene/Cough etiquette | Cover coughs/sneezes; provide masks to symptomatic patients |
| Safe injection practices | Use a new needle and syringe for each injection; use single-dose vials when possible |
| Sharps safety | Do not recap needles; dispose in puncture-resistant sharps containers |
| Environmental cleaning | Clean and disinfect surfaces and equipment between patients |
When to Use Standard Precautions
| Situation | Standard Precautions Apply? |
|---|---|
| All patients, all settings | YES - regardless of diagnosis |
| Known infectious patient | YES + Transmission-Based Precautions |
| Patient with no known infection | YES - always assume potential for transmission |
| Handling any body fluid | YES - except sweat |
Transmission-Based Precautions (Added to Standard)
| Type | Transmission Route | Examples | Additional PPE |
|---|---|---|---|
| Contact | Direct/indirect touch | MRSA, C. diff, scabies | Gown + Gloves |
| Droplet | Large respiratory droplets (>5 microns) | Influenza, pertussis, meningitis | Surgical mask within 3-6 feet |
| Airborne | Small particles (<5 microns) | TB, measles, varicella (chickenpox) | N95 respirator + negative pressure room |
Hand Hygiene Moments (WHO 5 Moments)
- Before touching a patient
- Before a clean/aseptic procedure
- After body fluid exposure risk
- After touching a patient
- After touching patient surroundings
Exam Alert
Standard precautions are tested in the Safety and Infection Control category on the NCLEX-PN (10-16%). Hand hygiene is the SINGLE most important infection control measure. Know the difference between standard precautions (ALL patients) and transmission-based precautions (added for specific pathogens). Standard precautions apply to ALL body fluids EXCEPT sweat.
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Related Terms
Aspiration Precautions
Aspiration precautions are nursing interventions designed to prevent food, liquid, or gastric contents from entering the airway and lungs. Key measures include elevating the head of bed to 30-45 degrees, thickening liquids, and monitoring swallowing ability.
Indwelling Catheter (Foley)
An indwelling catheter (Foley catheter) is a flexible tube inserted through the urethra into the bladder to continuously drain urine. It is held in place by an inflated balloon and connected to a closed drainage system. Proper catheter care is essential to prevent catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs).
Wound Care
Wound care is the nursing practice of assessing, cleaning, treating, and dressing wounds to promote healing and prevent infection. It includes understanding wound types, healing stages, dressing selection, and recognizing signs of complications such as infection or delayed healing.
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