What is the first step in assisting a male person with a urinal?

The first step in assisting a male person with a urinal is hand hygiene. Performing hand hygiene is crucial because it helps prevent the spread of infections and ensures safety for both the caregiver and the patient. Clean hands minimize the risk of transferring pathogens that may be present on the caregiver's hands, reducing the chance of cross-contamination when helping the patient.

Before engaging in any direct care tasks, including assisting with a urinal, the caregiver should ensure their hands are clean by washing them thoroughly with soap and water or using hand sanitizer. This practice is a fundamental part of infection control and is essential in maintaining a safe healthcare environment.

Other options are steps involved in the process but are not the initial action. Performing hand hygiene with gloves may come into play after initial cleaning of hands, and reporting and recording observations are actions taken after assistance has been provided. Removing gloves and performing hand hygiene is a necessary step following the removal of gloves but is not the first step in the overall process.