What are “standard precautions” in nursing?

Standard precautions in nursing are infection control practices that are designed to protect both healthcare providers and patients by treating all blood and body fluids as potentially infectious. This approach is based on the principle that healthcare workers should use the same level of care and protective measures regardless of the perceived risk associated with a patient, as it's impossible to accurately determine who may be carrying infectious agents.

By adopting standard precautions, nurses are encouraged to use personal protective equipment such as gloves, masks, and gowns when necessary and to practice hand hygiene after any contact with a patient. This not only helps prevent the transmission of infectious diseases but also promotes a safer environment for both patients and healthcare staff.

The other choices focus on practices that either do not encompass the full scope of standard precautions or apply to different aspects of patient care. For instance, practices used only during surgeries do not reflect the continual application of precautions needed in routine care. Protocols for patient education and guidelines for emotional support relate to patient interaction but do not encompass the critical infection control measures that are essential in nursing practice.