The practical nurse (PN) observes an unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP) who is leaving a client. Which immediate action should the PN take?

A. Advise the UAP to wash hands before providing further care: While reminding the UAP to wash hands before assisting another client is important, the immediate concern is that the UAP may have left the client’s room without performing proper hand hygiene, which risks cross-contamination. B. Determine if the UAP was wearing gloves when providing care: The use of gloves does not replace the need for proper hand hygiene. Even if gloves were worn, hands must still be washed after glove removal to prevent the spread of pathogens. C. Instruct the UAP to return to the client's room to wash hands: Directing the UAP to perform hand hygiene immediately after client contact ensures compliance with standard precautions and protects other clients from contamination. D. Remind the UAP to use an alcohol-based hand rub regularly: Regular use of alcohol-based sanitizer is encouraged, but in this case, the PN should ensure immediate corrective action rather than provide a general reminder. The focus must be on stopping the current breach of infection control.