Texas Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)

If a nursing assistant needs to clean up a spill, what is the first step she should take?

1. Call for help

2. Put on gloves

3. Gather cleaning supplies

4. Identify the type of spill

The correct answer is: Put on gloves

The correct first step when cleaning up a spill is to identify the type of spill. Understanding what has been spilled is crucial because it informs the nursing assistant about the appropriate cleaning method, which supplies to gather, and whether personal protective equipment is necessary. For example, if the spill is a chemical or biological substance, specific cleaning procedures and protective gear are required to ensure safety and compliance with health protocols. Putting on gloves is important for protecting oneself from potential contaminants, but it shouldn't be the initial step before assessing the situation. Gathering cleaning supplies comes after identifying the type of spill, as different spills require different cleaning materials. While calling for help can be necessary in certain situations, particularly if the spill poses a risk or exceeds the assistant's capacity to handle safely, it is still secondary to first determining the nature of the spill. Therefore, identifying the type of spill guides all subsequent actions, making it the appropriate first step.