Cleaning shared equipment

Question

A nursing assistant finishes taking a blood pressure on one resident in a shared room, and the next resident on the list is the roommate. The cuff and stethoscope are shared by all residents on the hall. What should the nursing assistant do before using the cuff on the roommate?

1. AWipe the cuff only if blood or other soil is visible on it.✗ Incorrect

   Shared equipment is cleaned between residents, not only when it looks soiled.

2. BRinse the cuff under running water and let it air dry.✗ Incorrect

   Water alone does not disinfect equipment.

3. CClean and disinfect the cuff with the facility's approved disinfectant after use on the first resident.✓ Correct

   Correct. Shared noncritical equipment is cleaned and disinfected between residents.

4. DPerform hand hygiene only, since the cuff touches intact skin.✗ Incorrect

   Hand hygiene is needed too, but it does not replace cleaning shared equipment.

Answer

C. Clean and disinfect the cuff with the facility's approved disinfectant after use on the first resident.

Rationale

Equipment that moves from resident to resident can carry pathogens on its surfaces even when it looks clean. Blood pressure cuffs are cleaned and disinfected between residents using the facility's approved product and the manufacturer's directions. This is part of medical asepsis.