Safety and Infection ControlQuestion 1252 of 2368
A parent finds a tick on their child's arm. Which action should the nurse teach?
- Grasp the tick's body with bare fingers, pull it off quickly, and wash the bite with soap and water.
- Cover the tick with petroleum jelly and wait for it to drop off, then clean the bite with alcohol.
- Use tweezers near the tick's head, remove all parts, and clean the bite with soap, water, and alcohol.
- Squeeze the tick's body with tweezers to pop it, then wash only the hands with soap and water.
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Correct answer: Use tweezers near the tick's head, remove all parts, and clean the bite with soap, water, and alcohol.
Ticks are removed near the head or mouth with tweezers, making sure all parts are gone. The bite area and hands are then cleaned.
Source: Nursing Health Promotion (Open RN, Chippewa Valley Technical College, 2025), Other Childhood Disorders: Implementation (Take Action). Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
Practice the topic "Safety and Infection Control"Questions last reviewed: 18 October 2026