Certified Gastroenterology RN Infection Control and Safety 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: How should sharps such as biopsy needles be disposed of after a GI procedure?
- Recapped and placed in the regular trash
- Placed uncapped directly into a puncture-resistant sharps container (Correct answer)
- Handed to another staff member to recap
- Rinsed and reused later in the day
Correct answer: Placed uncapped directly into a puncture-resistant sharps container
Sharps must go directly into a designated puncture-resistant container without recapping to prevent injury.
Question 2: Which waste is classified as regulated medical (biohazardous) waste in the endoscopy unit?
- Empty paper packaging
- Blood-saturated dressings and used sharps (Correct answer)
- Disposable gowns with no visible soil
- Clean unused gauze
Correct answer: Blood-saturated dressings and used sharps
Items saturated with blood or body fluids and used sharps are regulated medical waste requiring special disposal.
Question 3: What does a chemical indicator (e.g., autoclave tape) confirm about a sterilized item?
- That the item is guaranteed sterile
- That the package was exposed to the sterilization process parameters (Correct answer)
- That the item was cleaned before packaging
- That the item is safe to reuse indefinitely
Correct answer: That the package was exposed to the sterilization process parameters
A chemical indicator shows exposure to sterilization conditions but does not by itself guarantee sterility.
Question 4: How is the effectiveness of a steam sterilizer definitively verified?
- By visual inspection of the load
- With a biological indicator containing bacterial spores (Correct answer)
- By checking the room temperature
- By counting the number of instruments
Correct answer: With a biological indicator containing bacterial spores
Biological indicators use resistant spores to confirm the sterilizer actually killed microorganisms.
Question 5: A sterile package is found to be wet upon removal from storage. What should the nurse do?
- Use it immediately before it dries
- Consider it contaminated and do not use it (Correct answer)
- Dry it with a towel and use it
- Store it for later use once dry
Correct answer: Consider it contaminated and do not use it
Moisture creates a wicking path for microorganisms, so a wet package is considered contaminated.
Question 6: According to the color-coded safety data, what does an SDS (Safety Data Sheet) provide for chemicals like glutaraldehyde?
- The purchase price of the product
- Hazard information, exposure limits, and first-aid measures (Correct answer)
- The manufacturer's marketing slogan
- The expiration date only
Correct answer: Hazard information, exposure limits, and first-aid measures
An SDS details hazards, safe handling, exposure limits, and emergency measures for hazardous chemicals.
Question 7: What engineering control minimizes staff exposure to glutaraldehyde vapor during manual reprocessing?
- Opening all windows in the summer
- Using covered soaking basins and adequate room ventilation with fume containment (Correct answer)
- Wearing only a surgical mask
- Increasing the room temperature
Correct answer: Using covered soaking basins and adequate room ventilation with fume containment
Closed containers and proper ventilation reduce airborne vapor concentration below hazardous exposure limits.
Certified Gastroenterology RN Infection Control and Safety 4
How should sharps such as biopsy needles be disposed of after a GI procedure?