After administering an injection using a syringe with a safety needle, which action should the nurse take to most effectively prevent a needlestick injury?

A. Detach the needle from the syringe by hand, then place the needle and syringe separately into the sharps container is incorrect because handling the needle manually increases the risk of accidental needlestick injuries. Needles should never be detached by hand after use. B. Place the uncapped needle on a tray nearby to recap later when time permits is incorrect because leaving a used needle exposed is unsafe and violates standard precautions. This increases the risk of accidental sticks to the nurse or others. C. Engage the safety device on the needle immediately and dispose of the syringe in a puncture-proof sharps container immediately after use is correct because it follows OSHA and CDC guidelines for needlestick prevention. Using the needle’s built-in safety mechanism immediately after administration and discarding it directly into a sharps container minimizes handling and exposure, effectively preventing injuries and potential bloodborne pathogen transmission. D. Recap the needle carefully using both hands before disposing of it to avoid accidental sticks is incorrect because recapping needles by hand is strongly discouraged due to the high risk of needlestick injury. If recapping is absolutely necessary, a one-handed scoop method is recommended, but best practice is to use safety-engineered devices and dispose of needles immediately.