Infection Prevention & Control Flashcards
6 cards from real NMC OSCE practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 Infection Prevention & Control flashcards as text
A nurse is removing PPE after caring for a patient with norovirus. What is the correct order for doffing (removing) PPE?
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.
What is the term for the practice of caring for patients with the same infective organism together in a bay?
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.
An aseptic non-touch technique (ANTT) is being performed for urinary catheter insertion. What is the key principle of ANTT?
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.
Which of the following correctly describes a 'clean' technique as distinct from an 'aseptic' technique?
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.
A healthcare worker sustains a needlestick injury from a known HIV-positive patient. What is the first action?
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).
What colour clinical waste bag is used for infectious clinical waste in England?
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.