CPAN Safety and Infection Control 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A PACU nurse discovers that a patient's IV site shows redness, warmth, and purulent drainage. What is the FIRST nursing action?
- Discontinue the IV and notify the physician (Correct answer)
- Apply a warm compress and continue monitoring
- Increase the IV flow rate to dilute any infection
- Document the finding and reassess in one hour
Correct answer: Discontinue the IV and notify the physician
Signs of IV site infection require immediate discontinuation of the IV catheter and physician notification to prevent systemic spread.
Question 2: Which transmission-based precaution is required for a PACU patient with confirmed pulmonary tuberculosis?
- Contact precautions with gown and gloves
- Droplet precautions with surgical mask
- Airborne precautions with N95 respirator and negative-pressure room (Correct answer)
- Standard precautions only
Correct answer: Airborne precautions with N95 respirator and negative-pressure room
Pulmonary tuberculosis requires airborne precautions, including an N95 respirator and placement in a negative-pressure room, because TB is transmitted via airborne particles.
Question 3: A post-operative patient develops fever of 38.8°C, hypotension, and tachycardia six hours after surgery. These findings are MOST consistent with:
- Malignant hyperthermia
- Systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) (Correct answer)
- Neuroleptic malignant syndrome
- Postoperative shivering
Correct answer: Systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS)
Fever, hypotension, and tachycardia meeting SIRS criteria postoperatively suggest possible sepsis requiring immediate evaluation and intervention.
Question 4: When caring for a patient with Clostridioides difficile (C. diff) infection, which hand hygiene method is MOST effective?
- Alcohol-based hand rub for at least 20 seconds
- Soap and water hand washing for at least 15 seconds (Correct answer)
- Alcohol-based hand rub followed by glove application
- Chlorhexidine-impregnated wipes
Correct answer: Soap and water hand washing for at least 15 seconds
C. difficile spores are resistant to alcohol-based hand rubs; soap and water physically remove spores and is the recommended hand hygiene method.
Question 5: A PACU nurse is preparing to insert a urinary catheter. Which action BEST reduces catheter-associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI) risk?
- Using a smaller catheter size to reduce trauma
- Maintaining a closed sterile drainage system throughout care (Correct answer)
- Irrigating the catheter with antiseptic solution daily
- Securing the catheter to the abdomen to prevent kinking
Correct answer: Maintaining a closed sterile drainage system throughout care
Maintaining a closed sterile drainage system is the single most important intervention to prevent CAUTI by preventing bacterial entry into the urinary tract.
Question 6: Which patient is at HIGHEST risk for developing a surgical site infection (SSI)?
- A 30-year-old with BMI 22 undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy
- A 65-year-old diabetic with HbA1c of 10% undergoing open bowel resection (Correct answer)
- A 45-year-old nonsmoker undergoing elective hernia repair
- A 55-year-old with well-controlled hypertension undergoing appendectomy
Correct answer: A 65-year-old diabetic with HbA1c of 10% undergoing open bowel resection
Poor glycemic control (HbA1c 10%) combined with diabetes, advanced age, and a contaminated surgical field (bowel resection) significantly elevate SSI risk.
Question 7: A PACU nurse notes that a blood pressure cuff is visibly soiled after use. What is the appropriate action?
- Continue use on the same patient only until discharge
- Discard the cuff and replace with a new one immediately
- Clean the cuff with an EPA-approved disinfectant before reuse (Correct answer)
- Leave the cuff for central supply to process
Correct answer: Clean the cuff with an EPA-approved disinfectant before reuse
Visibly soiled non-critical equipment like blood pressure cuffs must be cleaned with an EPA-approved disinfectant before any reuse to prevent cross-contamination.
CPAN Safety and Infection Control 2
A PACU nurse discovers that a patient's IV site shows redness, warmth, and purulent drainage.
What is the FIRST nursing action?