The most important action to take if the phlebotomist sustains a sharps injury is to?

The most important action to take if a phlebotomist sustains a sharps injury is to seek immediate medical attention. When a sharp object, such as a needle, punctures the skin, there is a risk of exposure to bloodborne pathogens, which can lead to serious infections.

Seeking medical attention ensures that the individual receives appropriate wound care and assessment for potential exposure to infectious diseases. This may involve testing for pathogens such as HIV, Hepatitis B, and Hepatitis C, and possibly receiving post-exposure prophylaxis if necessary.

While filing an incident report, notifying a colleague, and cleaning the wound are important steps in the incident process, they are secondary to ensuring the health and safety of the injured individual through medical evaluation and treatment. Proper medical care is the priority to mitigate health risks associated with such injuries.