When assessing a patient, what should you do if blood is visible?

When blood is visible during a patient assessment, it is crucial to prioritize safety and infection control, which is why following BSI (Body Substance Isolation) procedures is the correct action. This approach ensures that healthcare providers protect themselves and minimize the risk of cross-contamination. BSI procedures typically include wearing gloves, masks, gowns, or other protective equipment depending on the situation, allowing you to safely interact with the patient while preventing exposure to potentially infectious materials.

The emphasis on personal safety and infection prevention is particularly important when dealing with blood, as it can carry pathogens that pose a risk to both the healthcare provider and other patients. Thus, using appropriate personal protective equipment as part of BSI protocols is essential for ensuring safety in a medical environment.

While gloves are an important part of BSI procedures, using only gloves does not encompass the full scope of proper safety measures that BSI procedures entail. Communicating with the patient's family is important for providing emotional support, but it does not address the immediate need for infection control in the presence of visible blood. Maintaining verbal communication with the patient is necessary for assessment and providing reassurance but does not directly pertain to the management of blood exposure risks. Hence, prioritizing BSI procedures is the most comprehensive and critical response in