CNA Isolation Precautions 2

Question 1

A resident with a severely compromised immune system is placed in Protective (Reverse) Isolation. Which of the following items brought by family presents a significant risk and should not be placed in the resident's room?

Accepted Answer

A bouquet of fresh flowers in a vase

Answer

Fresh flowers, potted plants, and their water or soil can harbor fungi and bacteria, such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which can cause serious infections in individuals with weakened immune systems. Protective isolation is designed to protect the resident from outside pathogens.

Question 2

A long-term care facility is experiencing an influenza outbreak and must place two residents with confirmed influenza A in the same room. This practice is known as cohorting. What is the primary principle that allows for this practice?

Accepted Answer

Both residents are actively infected with the same pathogen and private rooms are unavailable.

Answer

Cohorting is the practice of grouping patients infected or colonized with the same organism to confine their care to one area. It is an accepted infection control strategy when single-patient rooms are not available, but it requires that the patients have the same confirmed active infection.

Question 3

A CNA is preparing to transport a resident who is on Airborne Precautions for active pulmonary tuberculosis to the radiology department. Which action is the most critical to minimize transmission during transport?

Accepted Answer

Placing a standard surgical mask on the resident.

Answer

When a patient on Airborne Precautions must leave their room, they should wear a surgical mask to contain their own respiratory secretions at the source. This prevents infectious particles from spreading into the environment during transport. The transporting staff does not typically need a respirator if the patient is properly masked.

Question 4

After providing care for a resident with a Clostridium difficile (C. diff) infection, the CNA must perform hand hygiene. Which of the following methods is required in this specific situation?

Accepted Answer

Washing hands vigorously with soap and water.

Answer

C. difficile forms spores that are resistant to alcohol-based hand sanitizers. The friction from washing hands with soap and water is necessary to physically remove the spores from the skin. Therefore, handwashing with soap and water is required after caring for a patient with C. diff.

Question 5

When a resident is on Contact Precautions for Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), which of the following describes the correct handling of non-critical, reusable equipment like a blood pressure cuff?

Accepted Answer

The cuff should be dedicated for use on that single resident whenever possible.

Answer

To prevent cross-contamination, non-critical patient-care equipment (like stethoscopes and blood pressure cuffs) should be dedicated to a single patient or a cohort of patients with the same pathogen. If equipment must be shared, it must be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected before being used on another resident.

CNA Practice Test

CNA Practice Test

CNA Isolation Precautions 2