Trivium Safety and Infection Control 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A resident's call light has been on for 20 minutes. When the nurse aide enters, the resident is confused and pale. What should the aide do FIRST?
- Reassure the resident and continue scheduled tasks
- Notify the nurse immediately (Correct answer)
- Check the resident's vital signs alone
- Document the observation and wait
Correct answer: Notify the nurse immediately
Sudden confusion and pallor are signs of a potential emergency that require immediate nurse notification.
Question 2: Standard precautions apply to which of the following?
- Only residents with confirmed infections
- All blood and body fluids from every resident (Correct answer)
- Residents in isolation rooms only
- Airborne pathogens only
Correct answer: All blood and body fluids from every resident
Standard precautions treat all blood and body fluids as potentially infectious regardless of the resident's diagnosis.
Question 3: Which action best prevents the spread of MRSA in a healthcare facility?
- Using contact precautions and proper hand hygiene (Correct answer)
- Keeping the resident's door closed at all times
- Wearing a mask during all resident interactions
- Disinfecting the room only after discharge
Correct answer: Using contact precautions and proper hand hygiene
Contact precautions combined with consistent hand hygiene are the primary strategies for preventing MRSA transmission.
Question 4: A resident is choking and cannot speak or cough effectively. What should the nurse aide do?
- Perform back blows only
- Begin abdominal thrusts (Heimlich maneuver) (Correct answer)
- Lay the resident down and tilt their head back
- Call 911 and wait for help
Correct answer: Begin abdominal thrusts (Heimlich maneuver)
Abdominal thrusts are the recommended technique to dislodge a foreign body airway obstruction in a conscious adult.
Question 5: What is the correct technique for disposing of a used sharps container?
- Place it in a regular trash bag when three-quarters full
- Seal and place in a designated biohazard waste container when three-quarters full (Correct answer)
- Empty and reuse the container after rinsing
- Leave it in the resident's room until maintenance collects it
Correct answer: Seal and place in a designated biohazard waste container when three-quarters full
Sharps containers must be sealed and placed in biohazard waste when three-quarters full to prevent needle-stick injuries.
Question 6: Which of the following is the CORRECT order of the chain of infection?
- Host → Reservoir → Agent → Portal of exit → Means of transmission → Portal of entry
- Agent → Reservoir → Portal of exit → Means of transmission → Portal of entry → Susceptible host (Correct answer)
- Reservoir → Host → Portal of exit → Agent → Portal of entry → Means of transmission
- Portal of entry → Agent → Reservoir → Susceptible host → Portal of exit → Means of transmission
Correct answer: Agent → Reservoir → Portal of exit → Means of transmission → Portal of entry → Susceptible host
Infection begins with an agent in a reservoir, exits through a portal, is transmitted, and enters a susceptible host through a portal of entry.
Question 7: A resident has a latex allergy. Which action should the nurse aide take?
- Use only non-latex gloves and alert the care team (Correct answer)
- Avoid using any gloves for this resident
- Use latex gloves briefly as long as the resident is monitored
- Document the allergy after care is given
Correct answer: Use only non-latex gloves and alert the care team
Non-latex gloves must be used and all team members alerted to prevent a potentially life-threatening allergic reaction.
Trivium Safety and Infection Control 3
A resident's call light has been on for 20 minutes.
When the nurse aide enters, the resident is confused and pale.
What should the aide do FIRST?