A nurse on a medical unit is teaching a group of assistive personnel about handling clients' bed linens safely. Which of the following instructions should the nurse include?

A. Fill linen bags with as much soiled linen as possible: Overfilling linen bags increases the risk of tearing, contamination, and accidental exposure to pathogens. Bags should only be filled to a safe level that can be securely tied and handled. B. Return any fresh linen not used for a client to the linen supply area: Once linens enter a client’s room, they are considered contaminated, even if unused. Returning them to the supply area poses an infection control risk, so they should not be reused for another client. C. Use double bagging to remove soiled linen from the client’s room: Double bagging is generally not required unless the outside of the bag is contaminated or visibly soiled. Routine use of double bags is not a recommended standard practice. D. Tie linen bags securely at the top: Properly securing linen bags prevents the spread of microorganisms, minimizes contamination risks during transport, and maintains a safe and sanitary environment. This is the correct instruction to include when teaching safe linen handling.