NMC OSCE Infection Prevention & Control 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A nurse is removing PPE after caring for a patient with norovirus. What is the correct order for doffing (removing) PPE?
- Gloves, apron, eye protection, mask (Correct answer)
- Mask, eye protection, apron, gloves
- Apron, gloves, eye protection, mask
- Gloves, eye protection, apron, mask
Correct answer: Gloves, apron, eye protection, mask
The correct doffing sequence to minimise self-contamination is: gloves first (most contaminated), then apron/gown, then eye protection, then mask last (least likely to be contaminated on outside). Perform hand hygiene between each step.
Question 2: What is the term for the practice of caring for patients with the same infective organism together in a bay?
- Reverse isolation
- Barrier nursing
- Cohort nursing (Correct answer)
- Source isolation
Correct answer: Cohort nursing
Cohort nursing involves grouping patients infected or colonised with the same organism (e.g., norovirus, MRSA) in the same area, staffed by a dedicated team. It is used when single rooms are insufficient for individual isolation.
Question 3: An aseptic non-touch technique (ANTT) is being performed for urinary catheter insertion. What is the key principle of ANTT?
- Wearing gloves throughout the procedure
- Never touching key parts or key sites (Correct answer)
- Using sterile water for all cleaning
- Performing the procedure in a sterile room
Correct answer: Never touching key parts or key sites
The key principle of ANTT is never directly touching key parts (e.g., catheter tip, syringe nozzle) or key sites (e.g., catheter insertion point). Non-touch technique protects critical components from microbial contamination even if the environment is not fully sterile.
Question 4: Which of the following correctly describes a 'clean' technique as distinct from an 'aseptic' technique?
- Clean technique uses sterile equipment throughout; aseptic does not
- Clean technique aims to reduce pathogen introduction; aseptic technique aims to prevent all microorganism introduction (Correct answer)
- Clean technique is appropriate for IV line insertion; aseptic is for wound care
- There is no distinction — they are interchangeable terms
Correct answer: Clean technique aims to reduce pathogen introduction; aseptic technique aims to prevent all microorganism introduction
Aseptic technique aims to prevent any microorganisms from reaching a susceptible site, used for invasive procedures like catheter insertion. Clean technique aims to reduce microbial introduction but accepts some degree of contamination, used for less invasive procedures like chronic wound dressing.
Question 5: A healthcare worker sustains a needlestick injury from a known HIV-positive patient. What is the first action?
- Immediately go to the emergency department for HIV testing
- Encourage bleeding, wash with soap and water, report to occupational health (Correct answer)
- Apply a tourniquet and go to the emergency department
- Take post-exposure prophylaxis immediately without reporting
Correct answer: Encourage bleeding, wash with soap and water, report to occupational health
The immediate response to needlestick injury is to encourage bleeding from the wound (do not suck), wash thoroughly with soap and water (not scrubbing), and report immediately to occupational health or the emergency department for risk assessment and PEP (if indicated within 72 hours).
Question 6: What colour clinical waste bag is used for infectious clinical waste in England?
- Black
- Yellow (Correct answer)
- Orange
- Red
Correct answer: Yellow
In England, yellow clinical waste bags are used for infectious clinical waste (e.g., items contaminated with blood or body fluids, dressings from infected wounds). Yellow bags are incinerated. Orange bags are for offensive waste that is not infectious.
NMC OSCE Infection Prevention & Control 2
A nurse is removing PPE after caring for a patient with norovirus.
What is the correct order for doffing (removing) PPE?