Which action should a nurse take if a UAP did not use the correct bag for contaminated linen from a client on contact precautions?

The most effective action for the nurse in this scenario is to review transmission-based precautions with the unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP). By doing so, the nurse focuses on education and prevention, ensuring that the UAP understands the critical importance of using the correct bags for contaminated linen to mitigate the risk of spreading infection. This approach promotes a culture of safety, reinforces proper protocols, and helps the UAP learn from the situation to avoid such mistakes in the future.

While placing the linen in an appropriate bag is necessary for immediate containment of the contamination, it doesn't address the underlying issue of the UAP's misunderstanding or lack of knowledge regarding infection control practices. Writing an incident report could be deemed necessary for documentation, especially in a facility with stringent policies, but it does not directly resolve the knowledge gap. Similarly, placing an anecdotal summary in the UAP's personnel record would not contribute positively to their education or improvement. Therefore, reviewing the precautions provides a comprehensive response that ensures the UAP is better equipped for similar situations in the future.