CAVIT Direct Care Worker Fundamentals Practice Exam

What should be done with soiled linen?

1. Flushed down the toilet then laundered

2. Kept in the client's room until picked up by housekeeping

3. Disinfected and reused immediately

4. Placed in a regular waste bin

The correct answer is: Flushed down the toilet then laundered

Soiled linen should be handled with care to prevent the spread of infection and to maintain hygiene standards in a care setting. The correct action involves removing the soiled linen from the environment appropriately and ensuring it is laundered in a proper manner. Flushing soiled linen down the toilet is inappropriate as it can lead to plumbing issues and is not a sanitary method of disposal. Instead, soiled linen should typically be placed in designated laundry bags or containers to be sent for proper cleaning. Keeping the soiled linen in the client's room until picked up by housekeeping can pose health risks, as it can contribute to an unsanitary environment. Disinfecting and reusing the linen immediately is not advisable because it may not adequately eliminate all pathogens. Finally, placing soiled linen in a regular waste bin is also improper, as it needs to be handled with special protocols akin to medical waste. Therefore, the appropriate practice involves safely packaging soiled linen for laundering, but it does not involve flushing it down the toilet.