CNA Infection Control 2

Question 1

A resident on neutropenic precautions has a diet order for all food to be fully cooked. Which of the following meal trays delivered by the dietary aide would require the CNA to intervene?

Accepted Answer

A plate with baked chicken, steamed green beans, and a fresh, unpeeled apple.

Answer

Patients on neutropenic precautions have a severely weakened immune system and are highly susceptible to infections. A 'neutropenic diet' excludes raw or unpeeled fruits and vegetables, undercooked meats, and unpasteurized dairy products to minimize exposure to bacteria and fungi. A fresh, unpeeled apple is a raw fruit and could harbor microorganisms, posing a significant risk. The other options consist of fully cooked or pasteurized items, which are safe for consumption.

Question 2

A CNA is assisting a nurse with a sterile dressing change. The nurse, wearing sterile gloves, accidentally brushes her gloved hand against the resident's bed rail, which is outside the sterile field. What is the CNA's most appropriate immediate action?

Accepted Answer

Immediately state, 'Your glove just touched the bed rail. We need to stop and get a new pair.'

Answer

Maintaining a sterile field is a team responsibility. When a break in sterile technique occurs, it must be corrected immediately to prevent patient infection. The CNA has a duty to speak up professionally and clearly to ensure patient safety. The nurse must stop, remove the contaminated gloves, perform hand hygiene, and don a new pair of sterile gloves. Cleaning a sterile glove with an alcohol wipe does not re-sterilize it, and continuing the procedure would introduce contamination to the wound.

Question 3

A long-term care facility is experiencing a norovirus outbreak. Which of the following is the MOST critical instruction for the CNA to follow regarding hand hygiene?

Accepted Answer

Wash hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after contact with symptomatic residents.

Answer

Norovirus is highly resistant to alcohol-based hand sanitizers. The CDC explicitly recommends washing hands with soap and water after caring for patients with suspected or confirmed norovirus. The friction from washing and rinsing physically removes the virus particles. While gloves are essential PPE, they are not a substitute for proper hand hygiene, which is the most critical step in preventing transmission during a norovirus outbreak.

Question 4

A CNA is assigned to a resident with scabies. When changing the resident's bed linens, which procedure is most important to prevent the spread of mites?

Accepted Answer

Roll the linens carefully inward, place them in a designated, sealed bag inside the resident's room, and avoid contact with your uniform.

Answer

To prevent the spread of scabies mites and their eggs, soiled linen should be handled minimally. Shaking linens can aerosolize mites and contaminate the air and surfaces. Linens should be carefully rolled, contained in a labeled, leak-proof bag within the patient's room, and carried away from the body to prevent contamination of the CNA's uniform and the facility environment.

Question 5

A shared blood pressure cuff is used on a resident in contact precautions for C. difficile. Before the cuff can be used on another resident, what is the priority action?

Accepted Answer

Clean any visible soil with a cloth and then disinfect with an EPA-registered, spore-killing disinfectant.

Answer

C. difficile forms spores that are highly resistant to standard disinfectants, including alcohol. The correct procedure is to first clean the item to remove any organic matter, and then to disinfect it using an EPA-registered disinfectant that is specifically labeled as effective against C. difficile spores (a sporicidal agent), following the manufacturer's instructions for contact time. Alcohol wipes are not effective against C. diff spores.

CNA Practice Test

CNA Practice Test

CNA Infection Control 2