NACE Safety and Infection Control 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A nurse is preparing to administer IV medications to two patients simultaneously. Which action BEST prevents medication errors?
- Prepare both medications at the same time to save time
- Label each syringe and verify at the bedside using two patient identifiers (Correct answer)
- Ask a colleague to verify medications verbally
- Administer medications from memory since the nurse knows both patients
Correct answer: Label each syringe and verify at the bedside using two patient identifiers
Labeling syringes and verifying two patient identifiers at the bedside is the standard practice to prevent medication errors.
Question 2: A nurse is caring for a patient in airborne precautions for active tuberculosis. Which room assignment is correct?
- Any private room with the door closed
- A negative-pressure isolation room with the door closed (Correct answer)
- A positive-pressure room with HEPA filtration
- A semi-private room with a curtain drawn
Correct answer: A negative-pressure isolation room with the door closed
Active TB requires a negative-pressure (airborne infection isolation) room to prevent contaminated air from flowing into the hallway.
Question 3: Which action by a nursing student demonstrates correct understanding of surgical asepsis?
- Reaching over a sterile field to pass instruments
- Placing sterile items at the edge of the sterile field for easy access
- Keeping sterile gloved hands above the waist and in view (Correct answer)
- Considering a sterile item safe to use if it was opened 2 hours ago
Correct answer: Keeping sterile gloved hands above the waist and in view
Sterile gloved hands must remain above waist level and in the nurse's field of vision to maintain sterility.
Question 4: A nurse accidentally sustains a needlestick injury from a used needle. Which action should be taken FIRST?
- Report the incident to the charge nurse
- Immediately wash the site with soap and water (Correct answer)
- Squeeze the site to express blood
- Apply an antiseptic dressing
Correct answer: Immediately wash the site with soap and water
The first action after a needlestick is to immediately wash the wound thoroughly with soap and water.
Question 5: A nurse is using the SBAR communication tool to report a change in patient condition. What does the 'R' stand for?
- Review
- Recommendation (Correct answer)
- Reassessment
- Report
Correct answer: Recommendation
In SBAR, 'R' stands for Recommendation — the nurse's suggestion for what action should be taken.
Question 6: Which nursing action BEST reduces the risk of a catheter-associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI)?
- Irrigating the catheter every shift
- Securing the catheter to the thigh and keeping the drainage bag below bladder level (Correct answer)
- Changing the catheter every 48 hours
- Cleaning the perineum with antiseptic solution three times daily
Correct answer: Securing the catheter to the thigh and keeping the drainage bag below bladder level
Securing the catheter and maintaining the drainage bag below bladder level prevents backflow and reduces CAUTI risk.
Question 7: A nurse is caring for a patient receiving a blood transfusion who suddenly develops chills, fever, and back pain 15 minutes after the transfusion begins. What is the PRIORITY nursing action?
- Slow the transfusion rate and reassess in 30 minutes
- Stop the transfusion immediately and keep the IV line open with normal saline (Correct answer)
- Administer prescribed antihistamine and continue the transfusion
- Increase the IV fluid rate to dilute the blood product
Correct answer: Stop the transfusion immediately and keep the IV line open with normal saline
Signs of an acute hemolytic transfusion reaction require immediately stopping the transfusion and maintaining IV access with normal saline while notifying the provider.
NACE Safety and Infection Control 5
A nurse is preparing to administer IV medications to two patients simultaneously.
Which action BEST prevents medication errors?