Safety and Infection Control Flashcards

A PACU nurse is assigned to care for both a neutropenic patient and a patient with an active herpes zoster (shingles) infection. What is the safest assignment strategy?

Answer: Request reassignment so these two patients are cared for by different nurses

Immunocompromised (neutropenic) patients are highly susceptible to varicella-zoster; the safest practice is to have different nurses care for these two patients to eliminate cross-transmission risk.

Which laboratory value is MOST indicative of early sepsis in a PACU patient?

Answer: Serum lactate greater than 2 mmol/L

An elevated serum lactate (>2 mmol/L) indicates tissue hypoperfusion and is a key early biomarker of sepsis, triggering the Sepsis-3 protocol bundle.

A nurse accidentally walks through a spilled body fluid on the PACU floor without protective footwear. The MOST appropriate immediate action is:

Answer: Report to employee health for evaluation of exposure risk

Any potential body fluid exposure requires reporting to employee health for evaluation, documentation, and determination of follow-up needs per occupational safety guidelines.

Which set of conditions is REQUIRED for effective steam sterilization (autoclave) of surgical instruments?

Answer: 121°C temperature, 15 psi pressure, 15–30 minute exposure time

Standard steam sterilization (gravity displacement autoclave) requires 121°C, 15 psi, for 15–30 minutes to achieve sterility by destroying all microbial life including spores.

A PACU patient who is allergic to latex is scheduled to receive care. Which nursing action is MOST important for patient safety?

Answer: Using only vinyl or nitrile gloves and ensuring a latex-free environment

Creating a latex-free environment — including latex-free gloves, IV tubing, and equipment — is the only effective prevention strategy for latex-allergic patients in the PACU.

During a fire in the PACU, the nurse should use the RACE acronym. What is the correct order of actions?

Answer: Rescue, Alarm, Confine, Extinguish/Evacuate

RACE stands for Rescue (remove patients from immediate danger), Alarm (activate fire alarm), Confine (close doors to contain fire), and Extinguish/Evacuate, in that order.

A PACU nurse is reviewing a patient's chart and notes that prophylactic heparin was ordered but not administered on the surgical floor. Which patient safety concern does this MOST directly address?

Answer: Deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism prevention

Prophylactic anticoagulation with heparin is prescribed to prevent venous thromboembolism (DVT and PE), which is a leading cause of preventable postoperative death.