Certified Gastroenterology RN Infection Control and Safety 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the single most effective measure to prevent transmission of infection in the endoscopy suite?
- Wearing double gloves at all times
- Proper hand hygiene (Correct answer)
- Routine antibiotic prophylaxis
- Frequent room fumigation
Correct answer: Proper hand hygiene
Hand hygiene is consistently the most effective, evidence-based way to reduce healthcare-associated infection transmission.
Question 2: Standard Precautions in the GI lab are based on which principle?
- They apply only to patients with known infections
- All blood and body fluids are treated as potentially infectious (Correct answer)
- They apply only during colonoscopies
- Only airborne organisms require precautions
Correct answer: All blood and body fluids are treated as potentially infectious
Standard Precautions assume every patient's blood and body fluids may carry infectious agents regardless of diagnosis.
Question 3: A patient is admitted with Clostridioides difficile. Which hand hygiene method is required after care?
- Alcohol-based hand rub only
- Soap and water washing (Correct answer)
- Waterless foam sanitizer
- No hand hygiene if gloves were worn
Correct answer: Soap and water washing
C. difficile spores are not killed by alcohol, so mechanical removal with soap and water is required.
Question 4: When should a nurse perform hand hygiene relative to patient contact in the endoscopy unit?
- Only after removing gloves
- Before and after patient contact, even when gloves are used (Correct answer)
- Only at the start of the shift
- Only when hands look visibly soiled
Correct answer: Before and after patient contact, even when gloves are used
Hand hygiene is performed before and after contact because gloves are not a substitute for clean hands.
Question 5: Which type of precaution is appropriate for a patient with active pulmonary tuberculosis undergoing endoscopy?
- Contact precautions only
- Droplet precautions only
- Airborne precautions with an N95 respirator and negative-pressure room (Correct answer)
- Standard precautions only
Correct answer: Airborne precautions with an N95 respirator and negative-pressure room
Pulmonary TB requires airborne precautions including a fit-tested N95 respirator and a negative-pressure environment.
Question 6: What is the correct sequence for removing contaminated personal protective equipment?
- Mask, gloves, goggles, gown
- Gloves, goggles/face shield, gown, mask (Correct answer)
- Gown, gloves, mask, goggles
- Goggles, mask, gloves, gown
Correct answer: Gloves, goggles/face shield, gown, mask
Removing gloves first (most contaminated), then eyewear, gown, and finally the mask minimizes self-contamination.
Question 7: A GI nurse sustains a needlestick injury from a used needle. What is the immediate first action?
- Squeeze the site vigorously and apply a tourniquet
- Wash the wound with soap and running water, then report and seek evaluation (Correct answer)
- Apply bleach to the wound
- Ignore it if the patient appears healthy
Correct answer: Wash the wound with soap and running water, then report and seek evaluation
The wound should be washed with soap and water immediately, followed by prompt reporting for post-exposure evaluation.
Certified Gastroenterology RN Infection Control and Safety 3
What is the single most effective measure to prevent transmission of infection in the endoscopy suite?