Basic Nursing Skills Patient Safety & Infection Control 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A nurse is removing PPE after leaving an isolation room. What is removed last?
- Gown
- Gloves
- Mask or respirator (Correct answer)
- Eye protection
Correct answer: Mask or respirator
When doffing PPE, gloves are removed first, then gown, then eye protection, and the mask/respirator is removed last to minimize face contamination.
Question 2: Droplet precautions are used for which pathogen?
- Varicella (chickenpox)
- Influenza (Correct answer)
- Clostridium difficile
- Hepatitis B
Correct answer: Influenza
Influenza is transmitted via large droplets (>5 microns) during coughing, sneezing, or talking, requiring droplet precautions (surgical mask, private room).
Question 3: The three components of the chain of infection that nurses most directly control are:
- Infectious agent, reservoir, and host susceptibility
- Portal of exit, mode of transmission, and portal of entry (Correct answer)
- Environment, agent virulence, and host defenses
- Incubation period, infectious dose, and transmission route
Correct answer: Portal of exit, mode of transmission, and portal of entry
Nurses break the chain of infection primarily by controlling the portal of exit (source control), mode of transmission (hand hygiene, PPE), and portal of entry (aseptic technique).
Question 4: What is the minimum time required for proper hand washing with soap and water per CDC guidelines?
- 10 seconds
- 15 seconds
- 20 seconds (Correct answer)
- 30 seconds
Correct answer: 20 seconds
CDC guidelines recommend scrubbing hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds to effectively remove microorganisms.
Question 5: A patient is on neutropenic precautions. The nurse should:
- Place patient in positive-pressure room and restrict fresh fruits and flowers (Correct answer)
- Place patient in negative-pressure room with N95 mask required
- Apply contact precautions and restrict visitation
- Use standard precautions and encourage ambulation in hallways
Correct answer: Place patient in positive-pressure room and restrict fresh fruits and flowers
Neutropenic (protective) isolation uses a positive-pressure room, restricts items that harbor bacteria/fungi (fresh flowers, plants, uncooked foods), and limits exposure to pathogens.
Question 6: Which action represents a break in sterile technique during a urinary catheter insertion?
- Opening the sterile kit on a clean overbed table
- Touching the sterile drape only at its corners
- Allowing the sterile catheter to touch the patient's thigh before insertion (Correct answer)
- Using sterile gloves to handle all kit components
Correct answer: Allowing the sterile catheter to touch the patient's thigh before insertion
Any sterile item that contacts a non-sterile surface (such as a patient's skin) is considered contaminated and must be replaced.
Basic Nursing Skills Patient Safety & Infection Control 2
A nurse is removing PPE after leaving an isolation room.
What is removed last?