The nurse observes an unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP) preparing to provide personal care for a patient who requires contact precautions. The UAP has put on a gown and gloves and has secured the tops of the gloves over the gown sleeves. What action should the nurse take?

The correct answer is choice B. Confirm that the gown is tied securely at the neck and waist. Choice A rationale: Reminding the UAP to wash hands frequently while in the room is important for infection control, but it is not the immediate priority in this scenario. The UAP has already donned gloves, which are part of the personal protective equipment (PPE) required for contact precautions. Hand hygiene is crucial before and after patient contact and after removing gloves, but ensuring the gown is properly secured takes precedence to prevent contamination. Choice B rationale: Confirming that the gown is tied securely at the neck and waist is essential to ensure that the UAP is fully protected from potential contamination. A properly secured gown prevents the UAP’s clothing from coming into contact with the patient or contaminated surfaces, which is critical in maintaining effective contact precautions. Choice C rationale: Assisting the UAP with the application of a face mask or face shield is necessary for droplet or airborne precautions, not specifically for contact precautions. Since the scenario involves contact precautions, the focus should be on the gown and gloves. Choice D rationale: Helping the UAP reposition the gown sleeve over the glove edges is not necessary because the UAP has already secured the tops of the gloves over the gown sleeves. This method is appropriate as it prevents the sleeves from becoming contaminated.