Question 1

A patient has a nursing diagnosis of Infection, related to inadequate primary defenses, as evidenced by surgical incision and intravenous (IV) line access. An appropriate nursing intervention for this patient is to:

Accepted Answer

A)   assess and document skin condition around the incision and IV site at each shift.
B)   limit visitors to immediate family to decrease exposure to infection.
C)   require the use of a facemask by nursing staff when they are providing care.
D)   maintain "clean" technique in the change of wound dressing and IV site. A

Question 2

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 3

Differences between Airborne and Droplet Precautions include which of the following? (Select all that apply.)

Accepted Answer

A)   A surgical mask must be worn with Airborne Precautions.
B)   Patients on Droplet Precautions do not need to wear a surgical mask when outside their rooms.
C)   A surgical mask must be worn if working within 3 feet of a patient on Droplet Precautions.
D)   Airborne Precautions include placing the patient in a negative pressure room.
E)   A specialized respirator mask must be worn with patients on Droplet Precautions.F)  Standard Precautions need to be used only with patients on Airborne Precautions. C, D, E

Question 4

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 5

A patient is discharged home with a draining wound that was infected and for which he was on Contact Precautions while in the hospital. He lives at home with his 48-year-old wife and their 17-year-old daughter. It is most important to emphasize to this patient that:

Accepted Answer

A)   he should maintain a safe distance from his family.
B)   he should use paper plates and disposable utensils.
C)   soiled dressings should be disposed of in plastic bags that are tied securely.
D)   his family members should wear gloves when handling his plate and eating utensils.

Question 6

A patient is hospitalized with suspected disseminated zoster (varicella). The nurse should anticipate that this patient will be placed on:

Accepted Answer

A)   Standard Precautions.
B)   Droplet Precautions.
C)   Airborne Precautions.
D)   Contact Precautions.

Question 7

A nurse caring for a ventilator-dependent patient will incorporate which of the following best practices recommended by the IHI into the care plan, to reduce the incidence of health acquired infections (HAIs)?

Accepted Answer

A)   Continue to keep patient sedated to reduce anxiety.
B)   Instill eye drops to reduce dryness.
C)   Administer medication to reduce the likelihood of peptic ulcer disease.
D)   Elevate the head of the bed 15 degrees to prevent pneumonia.

Question 8

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 9

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 10

When the nurse is explaining Tier 2 as developed by the Hospital Infection Control Practices Advisory Committees (HICPAC), the nurse will emphasize that the purpose of Tier 2 is to:

Accepted Answer

A)   interrupt the mode of transmission.
B)   monitor the efficiency of the treatment.
C)   be put in place of Standard Precautions.
D)   update all information relative to infections.

Question 11

The nurse performing a surgical scrub is aware that the average time for the scrub is:

Accepted Answer

A)   3 minutes.
B)   5 minutes.
C)   6 minutes.
D)   7 minutes.

Question 12

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 13

The nurse is instructing one of the facility's unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP) about how to correctly use a sharps container. The nurse recognizes that further instruction is warranted when the UAP states, "I will:

Accepted Answer

A)   drop sharp items, including needles, into a sharps container."
B)   shake the sharps container gently to settle the contents."
C)   put my fingers inside the opening to push the item well inside the container."
D)   replace the sharps container when it is two thirds full."

Question 14

A nurse is caring for a patient in protective isolation for extreme immunosuppression. Before entering the room, which of the following actions should the nurse take? (Select all that apply.)

Accepted Answer

A)   Don a gown.
B)   Don a mask.
C)   Put on gloves.
D)   Apply a head covering.
E)   Apply shoe coverings.F)  Bring in the blood pressure cuff and stethoscope.

Question 15

When the patient complains of vague symptoms of malaise and fatigue and has a low-grade fever, but has no other specific signs of illness, the nurse suspects that this patient is in the prodromal phase of infection (the time immediately before the illness is diagnosed). The nurse should include in the plan of care to:

Accepted Answer

A)   increase assessment for specific signs of illness.
B)   increase fluid intake.
C)   place the patient in isolation.
D)   report findings to the Infection Preventionist Officer.

Question 16

The most contagious stage of infection is the ________________ period.

Accepted Answer

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

Question 17

The nurse cautions that a person in the incubation period of an infection:

Accepted Answer

A)   has identifiable signs of a specific illness.
B)   can transmit the disease although he or she does not feel ill.
C)   will seek medical attention for the relief of symptoms.
D)   will always exhibit symptoms within 48 hours.

Question 18

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 an 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 19

An 84-year-old patient is hospitalized for an infected stasis ulcer on his ankle. The nurse is aware that this patient is at risk for a hospital-acquired infection (HAI) because the:

Accepted Answer

A)   patient already has a blood-borne infection.
B)   patient's defenses are already engaged with the initial infection.
C)   ulcer will make this patient bedfast.
D)   stasis ulcers predispose the older adult to pneumonia and urinary infections.

Question 20

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.

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