When the nurse is using a syringe and needle to give a patient an injection, he or she should:

Throw the needle and syringe immediately in a covered garbage can with a red plastic liner to indicate the materials are biohazards.

Recap the needle and place it carefully on the patient's table until leaving the room, then discard it in a garbage container in the nurses' medication room.

Carefully break the needle from the syringe, using the needle cover to prevent reuse of a used syringe and needle.

Never recap the needle afterward to avoid risk of needle stick.