Infection Prevention and Control Flashcards
7 cards from real NMC 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 Prevention and Control flashcards as text
A nurse is preparing to insert a urinary catheter. Which action best reduces the risk of catheter-associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI)?
Answer: Use a closed drainage system and maintain it below bladder level
A closed drainage system kept below bladder level prevents retrograde contamination and is the primary CAUTI prevention strategy.
Which isolation precaution category is required for a patient diagnosed with pulmonary tuberculosis?
Answer: Airborne precautions with a negative-pressure room
Pulmonary TB is transmitted via airborne particles (droplet nuclei <5 µm) requiring a negative-pressure room and N95 respirator.
A nurse notices that a colleague skipped hand hygiene after removing gloves. What is the most appropriate first action?
Answer: Politely remind the colleague of hand hygiene policy at that moment
Immediate, respectful peer feedback is the most effective and appropriate first step to correct an IPC lapse.
When performing a surgical dressing change, the nurse selects sterile gloves and a sterile field. This reflects which principle?
Answer: Surgical asepsis
Surgical asepsis requires maintaining a completely sterile environment to prevent any microorganism introduction into a wound.
A patient with Clostridioides difficile (C. diff) infection is on contact precautions. Which hand hygiene agent is preferred upon leaving this patient's room?
Answer: Soap and water
C. difficile spores are not killed by alcohol; soap and water physically removes spores through mechanical friction and rinsing.
Which item is classified as 'critical' in the Spaulding classification and requires sterilization before use?
Answer: Surgical instrument entering sterile tissue
Critical items penetrate sterile body tissue or the vascular system and carry the highest infection risk, requiring full sterilization.
A nurse is caring for a patient in droplet precautions. At what distance from the patient should a surgical mask be worn?
Answer: Within 3 feet (approximately 1 meter)
Droplet precautions require a surgical mask when within approximately 3 feet (1 meter) of the patient, as large droplets do not travel farther.