Question 1

The nurse recognizes a break in aseptic technique when:

Accepted Answer

A)   the hand towel is kept above the waist level.
B)   the hands are kept lower than the elbows during the surgical scrub.
C)   faucets are turned off with a paper towel elbow or foot control in a scrub for a surgical operation.
D)   the sterile glove is donned by sliding the ungloved hand under the cuff of the sterile glove. B

Question 2

A patient on Airborne Precautions says to the nurse, "I feel like I'm going crazy cooped up in here. I feel like just sneaking out and finding someone to talk to." The best response by the nurse is:

Accepted Answer

A)   "You would be jeopardizing everyone you come into contact with. You could give a lot of innocent people your disease."
B)   "It won't be long before you can safely get out of here without being a danger to others."
C)   "You must be feeling bored being shut up in here. Have you been following the wonderful season our football team has been having?"
D)   "I know just how you feel. Sometimes I can't get outdoors because of the rain, and it's so hard being cooped up." C

Question 3

A nurse is instructing a nursing student about principles of aseptic technique. The nurse would recognize the need for further instruction if the nursing student states, "I must:

Accepted Answer

A)   avoid coughing, sneezing, or unnecessary talking near or over a sterile field."
B)   avoid reaching across or above a sterile field with my bare hands or arms."
C)   open the wrapper of a sterile pack toward my body, the proximal flap first."
D)   keep my sterile gloved hands in sight, away from all unsterile objects." C

Question 4

The correct way to handle soiled linens in the room of a patient who is on Contact Precautions is for the nurse to:

Accepted Answer

A)   shake out the linens before placing them in a designated laundry bag to ensure that there are no plastics or valuables caught in the sheets.
B)   wear a gown to protect the uniform and wear barrier gloves to roll the soiled sheets together and place them in the designated container.
C)   remove the soiled sheets using barrier gloves and to keep the linens away from the uniform and then place them in a laundry bag held by another nurse outside the room.
D)   carry the soiled sheets directly to the unit laundry area before removing the personal protective equipment (PP
E)  .

Question 5

A patient had abdominal surgery 3 days ago and now has a temperature of 101.2° F and reports feelings of malaise. The nurse assesses the abdominal incision and observes edema around the incision and some purulent drainage. This patient is in the ____________ stage of infection.

Accepted Answer

The answer of A patient had abdominal surgery 3 days...

Question 6

A patient with primary tuberculosis is on Airborne Precautions, and he spends much of the day sleeping and is confused and awake at night. An appropriate nursing intervention for this patient is to:

Accepted Answer

A)   provide diversionary activities or visitors during the day to decrease his sense of isolation and sensory deprivation.
B)   arrange for the patient to be transported to the lounge while wearing a surgical mask to provide more stimulation.
C)   consult with the physician for an order for an antidepressant and sleeping medication to treat the depression.
D)   encourage staff to "visit" with him from the doorway so that they do not have to wear a mask and they can increase his wakeful times during the day.

Question 7

A patient who has active primary tuberculosis is placed on Airborne Precautions. In addition to observing Standard Precautions for this patient, the nurse expects that:

Accepted Answer

A)   the patient can be in a room with a roommate, if both persons wear masks.
B)   a special particulate filter mask (respirator)  will be worn by anyone entering the room.
C)   the patient may leave the room freely as long as the patient wears a mask at all times.
D)   no mask is needed unless performing close-contact nursing care.

Question 8

The nurse is helping the physician perform a sterile procedure at the bedside. Halfway through the procedure, the nurse believes the physician has contaminated the sterile field. The nurse should:

Accepted Answer

A)   report the physician for violating surgical asepsis and endangering the patient.
B)   ask the physician whether she contaminated her glove and the sterile field.
C)   point out the possible break in surgical asepsis and provide another set of sterile gloves and a fresh sterile field.
D)   not say anything, because it is near the end of the procedure.

Question 9

The nurse adding sterile liquids to a sterile field should:

Accepted Answer

A)   hold the liquid container high over the sterile field.
B)   remove the cap and place the container with the inside facing down.
C)   prepare a new sterile field if it becomes wet during the procedure.
D)   carefully reach over the sterile field to pour the liquid.

Question 10

The patient for whom the nurse should observe Contact Precautions in addition to Standard Precautions would be diagnosed with:

Accepted Answer

A)   pulmonary tuberculosis.
B)   Haemophilus influenzae meningitis.
C)   pertussis.
D)   respiratory syncytial virus.

Question 11

The nurse is aware that the patient most at risk for a health care-associated infection (HAI) would be the:

Accepted Answer

A)   45-year-old in traction for a fractured femur.
B)   56-year-old with pneumonia who is receiving oxygen by mask.
C)   65-year-old with a Foley catheter.
D)   70-year-old with congestive heart failure attached to a monitor.

Question 12

The nurse collecting a sputum specimen for a patient with staphylococcal pneumonia will:

Accepted Answer

A)   wipe the specimen container with antimicrobial solution and hand carry it to the lab.
B)   double bag the specimen container and send the specimen to the lab.
C)   send the specimen to the lab in a Biohazard bag.
D)   notify the lab to collect the contaminated specimen.

Question 13

A nurse is instructing one of the facility's unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP) in ways to prevent health care-associated infections. The nurse recognizes that further instruction is warranted when the UAP states, "I will:

Accepted Answer

A)   wash my hands before and after caring for patients."
B)   cleanse patients from the rectum to the urinary meatus."
C)   clean residual urine off the catheter bag when emptying it."
D)   put all the soiled linen in the hamper in the room."

Question 14

The most contagious stage of infection is the ___________ period.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The most contagious stage of infection is...

Question 15

A nurse is caring for a patient who is in isolation. The nurse would correctly do which of the following?

Accepted Answer

A)   Freely take items in and out of the isolation room.
B)   Shake linen when removing it from the bed.
C)   Turn faucets on and off using a paper towel.
D)   Consider items dropped on the floor useable.

Question 16

A family member has been instructed in the administration of subcutaneous medication at home. The nurse instructs her to:

Accepted Answer

A)   break the needle off from the syringe so that it can't be reused and wrap the broken needle and syringe in newspaper and throw them in the garbage.
B)   recap the needle and dispose of it in the garbage, because it can't accidentally stick anyone with the cap replaced.
C)   save the used needles and syringes for the visiting nurse, who can collect them and arrange for proper disposal.
D)   place the used syringe and needle, without recapping it, in a large plastic bottle with a secure lid.

Question 17

The most effective part of infection control to reduce the incidence of health care-associated infections (HAIs) is to:

Accepted Answer

A)   use surgical asepsis for care of patients outside the operating room who are most at risk for a HAI.
B)   put all patients with wounds or invasive procedures on transmission-based precautions before they become infected.
C)   place an alcohol-based hand sanitizer solution in every patient room.
D)   use proper hand hygiene before and after caring for any patient, before donning gloves and after their removal.

Question 18

The nursing intervention most likely to decrease the chance of health care-associated infections (HAIs) for a 76-year-old patient following bowel resection surgery would be to have the patient:

Accepted Answer

A)   turn, cough, and deep-breathe every 2 hours.
B)   limit ambulation.
C)   get blood pressure, pulse, and respirations assessed every 4 hours.
D)   keep the room door closed.

Question 19

The nurse clarifies that the duties of the facility's Infection Preventionist include: (Select all that apply.)

Accepted Answer

A)   viewing every culture that is performed in the facility that is positive for pathogens.
B)   investigating possible causes for the occurrence of health care-associated infections (HAIs) .
C)   sanitizing isolation rooms after patients have been discharged.
D)   counseling persons who have been found to be careless about infection control protocols.
E)   providing education to health care staff relative to infection control.

Question 20

When picking up the first sterile glove, the nurse will:

Accepted Answer

A)   grasp the cuff with the thumb and fingers.
B)   insert fingers into the opening and pull the glove on while holding the cuff.
C)   slip a thumb in the opening and grasp the glove between the thumb and fingers.
D)   leave the glove on a flat surface and work the fingers into the opening.

Exam 17: Infection Prevention and Control in the Hospital and Home