Next Safety and Compliance 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: When using a fire extinguisher, what does the acronym PASS stand for?
- Pull, Aim, Squeeze, Sweep (Correct answer)
- Pull, Activate, Stand, Spray
- Press, Aim, Squeeze, Spray
- Prepare, Aim, Shoot, Sweep
Correct answer: Pull, Aim, Squeeze, Sweep
PASS = Pull the pin, Aim at the base of the fire, Squeeze the handle, and Sweep side to side.
Question 2: A hospitalized patient is found on the floor after an unwitnessed fall. What is the nurse's FIRST action?
- Assess the patient for injuries before moving them (Correct answer)
- Help the patient back to bed immediately
- Call the physician to report the fall
- Complete the incident report
Correct answer: Assess the patient for injuries before moving them
Assessing for injury before movement prevents worsening of potential spinal, head, or fracture injuries.
Question 3: A nurse is caring for a patient in airborne precautions for tuberculosis. Which respiratory protection is required when entering the room?
- N95 respirator or higher (Correct answer)
- Surgical mask
- Simple face shield
- PAPR only for aerosol-generating procedures
Correct answer: N95 respirator or higher
Airborne precautions require an N95 or higher-level respirator because TB droplet nuclei are small enough to remain suspended in air.
Question 4: A nurse receives a verbal order from a physician for a high-alert medication. Which safety step is MOST critical?
- Read the order back to the physician and receive confirmation before transcribing it (Correct answer)
- Administer the medication immediately to avoid delay
- Ask another nurse to witness the verbal order
- Document the order and call the pharmacy before notifying the physician
Correct answer: Read the order back to the physician and receive confirmation before transcribing it
Read-back verification of verbal orders for high-alert medications is required to confirm accuracy before administration.
Question 5: A nurse is preparing to insert a urinary catheter. Which action BEST reduces the risk of catheter-associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI)?
- Using strict aseptic technique throughout the insertion procedure (Correct answer)
- Inserting the catheter quickly to minimize exposure time
- Wearing clean gloves instead of sterile gloves to reduce cost
- Leaving the drainage bag on the bed to prevent tension on the tubing
Correct answer: Using strict aseptic technique throughout the insertion procedure
Strict aseptic technique during insertion is the single most important intervention to prevent CAUTI.
Question 6: Which patient situation meets the criteria for a restraint-free alternative BEFORE applying physical restraints?
- Increasing the frequency of safety checks and repositioning to reduce agitation (Correct answer)
- Applying soft wrist restraints because the patient has removed their IV twice
- Using restraints overnight so nursing staff can attend to other patients
- Obtaining a standing restraint order valid for the entire hospitalization
Correct answer: Increasing the frequency of safety checks and repositioning to reduce agitation
The least-restrictive approach must be attempted first; increasing monitoring and addressing unmet needs often eliminates the need for restraints.
Question 7: A nurse notices that a sharps container mounted on the wall is three-quarters full. The MOST appropriate action is to:
- Contact environmental services to replace the container before it reaches capacity (Correct answer)
- Continue using the container until it is completely full to avoid waste
- Remove sharps from the container to make room for additional needles
- Use the adjacent patient's room sharps container temporarily
Correct answer: Contact environmental services to replace the container before it reaches capacity
Sharps containers should be replaced at the fill line (typically three-quarters full) to prevent needlestick injuries from overfilling.
Next Safety and Compliance 3
When using a fire extinguisher, what does the acronym PASS stand for?