Infection Control & Safety Practices Flashcards
7 cards from real LVN practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Infection Control & Safety Practices flashcards as text
A patient on contact precautions needs transport to radiology. Which action is most appropriate before leaving the room?
Answer: Notify the receiving department and cover the patient's wounds or drainage sites
The receiving area must be notified and any infectious sites covered to prevent environmental contamination during transport.
Which organism is primarily associated with requiring airborne precautions in addition to contact precautions?
Answer: Varicella-zoster virus
Varicella-zoster (chickenpox/shingles) requires both airborne precautions for small droplet nuclei and contact precautions for direct skin contact.
When removing a contaminated gown, which surface is considered 'clean' to touch?
Answer: Inner surface of the gown
The inner surface of the gown (facing the wearer's body) remains uncontaminated and should be used when removing the gown.
A nurse sustains a needlestick injury. After washing the site, what is the immediate next step?
Answer: Report the exposure to the supervisor and occupational health
After washing, the nurse must immediately report the exposure so baseline testing and post-exposure prophylaxis can be initiated promptly.
Which disinfectant level is required to reprocess a semi-critical medical device such as an endoscope?
Answer: High-level disinfection
Semi-critical items contact mucous membranes and require high-level disinfection to eliminate all microorganisms except high numbers of bacterial spores.
The nurse notes that a newly admitted patient has a history of active pulmonary tuberculosis. Which room assignment is most appropriate?
Answer: Airborne infection isolation room with negative air pressure
Active pulmonary TB requires placement in an airborne infection isolation room with negative pressure to prevent spread of infectious droplet nuclei.
A patient's family member asks why the nurse wears gloves when providing personal care even though the patient has no known infection. Which best explains this?
Answer: Standard precautions treat all body fluids as potentially infectious
Standard precautions assume all blood and body fluids may contain pathogens regardless of diagnosis, protecting both nurse and patient.