CNA Certification (Written Exam)Infection Control and SafetyMedium
A nurse aide is assisting a resident who has no known infections with routine bathing. Under standard precautions, how should the aide treat the resident's blood and body fluids?
- AAs infectious only during invasive procedures
- BAs potentially infectious, requiring appropriate precautions
- CAs infectious only if visible blood is present
- DAs non-infectious since the resident has no diagnosed illness
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: B. As potentially infectious, requiring appropriate precautions
Standard precautions require that all blood, body fluids, secretions, and excretions be treated as potentially infectious regardless of a resident's diagnosis, since infection status may be unknown. This protects both the aide and resident from transmission of disease.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. Incorrect; precautions apply to all care, not just invasive procedures.
- C. Incorrect; even non-visible fluids can carry infectious agents.
- D. Incorrect; lack of diagnosis does not mean fluids are safe.
Standard Precautions Universal Rule
All blood and body fluids from all residents are treated as potentially infectious, regardless of diagnosis.
- Applies to every resident, not just known infections
- Reduces risk of undiagnosed infections spreading
- Foundation for all other precaution types
Memory trick: Treat every fluid like it's contagious — better safe than sorry.