NHI Safety and Infection Control Questions and Answers

Question 1

A healthcare worker is caring for a patient with a known airborne infection. Which of the following sequences represents the correct order for doffing (removing) Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to minimize self-contamination?

Accepted Answer

Gloves, goggles/face shield, gown, respirator

Answer

The correct sequence for doffing PPE is designed to remove the most contaminated items first, minimizing the risk of self-contamination. Gloves are considered the most contaminated and are removed first. The goggles/face shield are removed next, followed by the gown. The respirator is removed last, outside the patient's room, to prevent inhalation of airborne particles.

Question 2

Which of the following practices is a key component of 'medical asepsis' (clean technique)?

Accepted Answer

Performing thorough hand hygiene between patient encounters.

Answer

Medical asepsis, or clean technique, focuses on reducing the number of microorganisms and preventing their spread. Thorough hand hygiene is a fundamental practice of medical asepsis. The other options, such as using sterilized instruments, creating a sterile field, and performing a surgical scrub, are all components of 'surgical asepsis' (sterile technique), which aims to eliminate all microorganisms.

Question 3

In the chain of infection, a contaminated piece of medical equipment that transmits a pathogen to a patient acts as which of the following?

Accepted Answer

Mode of transmission

Answer

The mode of transmission is how an infectious agent is spread from the reservoir to a susceptible host. A contaminated object, or fomite, serves as an indirect contact mode of transmission. The reservoir is where the pathogen lives and multiplies, the portal of entry is how it enters the new host, and the susceptible host is the individual at risk for infection.

Question 4

According to the OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens Standard, which of the following is required for the disposal of needles, scalpels, and other contaminated sharps?

Accepted Answer

Disposing of them in a rigid, puncture-resistant, leak-proof, and clearly labeled container.

Answer

OSHA's Bloodborne Pathogens Standard mandates that contaminated sharps be disposed of immediately after use in containers that are closable, puncture-resistant, leak-proof on the sides and bottom, and labeled with the biohazard symbol or color-coded red. This prevents needlestick injuries and exposure to infectious materials.

Question 5

A healthcare worker sustains a needlestick injury from a used syringe. According to the Needlestick Safety and Prevention Act, which of the following is a required action for the employer?

Accepted Answer

Document the incident in a confidential sharps injury log.

Answer

The Needlestick Safety and Prevention Act requires employers to maintain a sharps injury log to record percutaneous injuries from contaminated sharps. This log must be maintained in a way that protects the confidentiality of the injured employee and must detail the type and brand of the device involved, the department where the incident occurred, and an explanation of how it happened.

(NHI) National Healthcareer Institute Certification Practice Test

(NHI) National Healthcareer Institute Certification Practice Test

NHI Safety and Infection Control Questions and Answers