A nurse is assigned to multiple patients on a busy surgical unit.To minimize the onset and spread of infection,the nurse should:

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Invasive treatment devices such as intravenous (IV)catheters or indwelling urinary catheters impair or bypass the body's natural defenses against microorganisms.Because of increased attention to the prevention of infection,the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)(2007)and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)(1991)have stressed the importance of barrier protection.Efforts to minimize the onset and spread of infection are based on the principles of aseptic technique.Aseptic technique is an effort to keep the patient as free from exposure to infection-causing pathogens as possible.The term asepsis means the absence of disease-producing microorganisms.When a person ages,normal physiological changes occur that influence susceptibility to infection.These changes include decreased immunity,dry mucous membranes,decreased secretions,and decreased elasticity in tissues.Because of these changes,the older adult is predisposed to infections.

A Nurse Is Assigned to Multiple Patients on a Busy