A nurse is admitting a new client to the subacute medical unit and is completing a comprehensive assessment. The nurse is appropriately applying standard precautions by performing what action?

a. Performing hand hygiene between examinations of each body part.
b. Discarding in the trash can the safety pin that was used to assess sensory perception.
c. Wearing gloves to palpate the tongue and buccal membranes.
d. Wearing a gown, gloves, and mask during the physical exam.