Safety and Infection Control Flashcards

A nurse is caring for a patient with Clostridioides difficile (C. diff) infection. Which personal protective equipment (PPE) is essential when entering the room?

Answer: Gown and gloves only

C. diff is transmitted via contact, so a gown and gloves are required; a mask is not routinely needed unless splashing is anticipated.

Which disinfectant is most appropriate for cleaning surfaces contaminated with C. difficile spores?

Answer: Bleach (sodium hypochlorite) solution

Bleach (sodium hypochlorite) is sporicidal and is the recommended agent for environmental decontamination of C. diff.

A nurse must perform hand hygiene after caring for a patient with C. difficile. Which method is preferred?

Answer: Soap and water for at least 20 seconds

Soap and water physically removes C. diff spores; alcohol-based hand rubs are not effective against spores.

A nurse administers the wrong dose of a medication but the patient experiences no harm. This event is classified as a:

Answer: Near miss

A near miss (close call) is an error that reaches the patient but causes no harm.

When removing PPE after caring for a patient on contact precautions, which item should be removed FIRST?

Answer: Gloves

Gloves are removed first because they are the most contaminated item and removal prevents contaminating the hands during further doffing.

A nurse finds a patient on the floor next to the bed. After ensuring safety, which action should be taken NEXT?

Answer: Notify the physician and complete an incident report

After immediate safety is ensured, the nurse must notify the physician and document the fall using an incident report per facility policy.

Which patient is at HIGHEST risk for developing a healthcare-associated infection (HAI)?

Answer: A 75-year-old patient with an indwelling urinary catheter on antibiotics

Older age, invasive devices (urinary catheter), and antibiotic use are all major risk factors for HAIs.