Safety & Infection Control || Correct Answers to Real
Exam Questions.
The hospital has sounded the call for a disaster drill on the evening shift. Which of these clients
would the nurse put first on the discharge list in order to make room for a new admission?
1. A newly diagnosed diabetic client with antibiotic induced diarrhea admitted 24 hours ago
2. A middle-aged client with a seven-year history of being ventilator dependent and who was
admitted with bacterial pneumonia eight days ago
3. An older adult client with a history of HTN, hypercholesterolemia and lupus and who was
admitted with Stevens-Johnson syndrome that morning
4. An adolescent with a positive HIV test and who was admitted for acute cellulitis of the lower
leg 48 hours ago correct answers 2. A middle-aged client with a seven-year history of being
ventilator dependent and who was admitted with bacterial pneumonia eight days ago
The best candidate for discharge is one who has a chronic condition and has an established plan
of care. The client who has been on the ventilator for years is most likely stable and could
continue medication therapy at home. The other clients have a risk for instability or are unstable.
The paramedics are transporting a poisoning victim to the local hospital. In which of these cases
does the nurse anticipate that hyperbaric oxygen therapy will be used?
1. A 35 year-old found unconscious with suspected carbon monoxide poisoning
2. A 21 year-old with suspected ethanol intoxication
3. A 2 year-old who ate an undetermined amount of crystal drain cleaner
4. A 6 year-old found sitting on the bathroom floor beside an empty bottle of diazepam (Valium)
correct answers 1. A 35 year-old found unconscious with suspected carbon monoxide poisoning
Carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning is the leading cause of poisoning in the U.S. It causes severe
hypoxia which is why treatment includes high-dose oxygen; in severe poisoning, hyperbaric
oxygen therapy may be used. Treatment for crystal drain cleaner and diazepam may include
gastric lavage and/or activated charcoal. Treatment for alcohol poisoning may include gastric
lavage, IV fluids and supportive care.
The parents of a toddler ask the nurse how long their child will have to sit in a car seat while in
an automobile. What is the nurse's best response to the parents?
1. "The child must be five years of age to use a regular seat belt"
2. "The child can use a regular seat belt when he can sit still"
3. "Your child must use a car seat until he weighs at least 40 pounds"
4. "You child must reach a height of 50 inches to sit in a seat belt" correct answers 3. "Your child
must use a car seat until he weighs at least 40 pounds"
The guidelines for car seats depend on the child's weight, height, age and car type. Children
should use car seats until they weigh 40 pounds (according to the U.S. National Highway Traffic
Safety Administration).
, A client is diagnosed with gastroenteritis, caused by a salmonella infection. Which of these
actions is the primary nursing intervention designed to limit the transmission of salmonella?
1. Wash hands thoroughly with soap and water before and after client contact
2. Decontaminate hands with alcohol-based skin disinfectant after client contact
3. Isolate the client in a single room without a roommate
4. Wear two pairs of gloves when changing contaminated linens correct answers 1. Wash hands
thoroughly with soap and water before and after client contact
Salmonella is a bacteria and one of the causes of gastroenteritis. Gastroenteritis is characterized
by acute onset of nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps and/or diarrhea. The CDC recommends
using standard precautions for this illness, which is why the primary nursing intervention is
thorough handwashing before and after client contact using soap and water. Skin disinfectants
can reduce the number of bacteria on the hands but cannot replace the importance of washing
with soap and water. Clients do not need to be placed in isolation; symptomatic clients can be
cohorted. Double-gloving can be effective in surgery, but it's probably not needed when
changing contaminated linens.
The charge nurse on the evening shift is asked to determine which client is a candidate for
discharge. Which of these clients should the nurse select as a potential candidate for discharge?
1. A middle-aged adult with a history of type 1 diabetes and one day post diabetic ketoacidosis
2. An adolescent, admitted on the day shift to rule out acute pancreatitis, who report a history of
alcohol abuse, with a current blood sugar of 90
3. An older adult female who is actively dying and has a "do not resuscitate" order
4. A young adult, admitted at the beginning of the shift, with an exacerbation of asthma correct
answers 1. A middle-aged adult with a history of type 1 diabetes and one day post diabetic
ketoacidosis
The client selected to be discharged should be one whose condition is more stable than the others
and where there's less of a risk for complications or instability after discharge. Although the
client with asthma has a chronic condition, s/he was just admitted and is experiencing an acute
exacerbation of the condition. The adolescent is experiencing an acute condition, probably
brought on by his/her alcohol abuse. Neither of these clients are stable enough for discharge. It is
a humane choice to allow the client who is in the process of dying to stay in the hospital.
After an explosion at a factory, one of the employees approaches the nurse and says, "I am a
certified nursing assistant (CNA) at the local hospital." Which of these tasks would be
appropriate for the nurse to assign to this worker who is assisting in the care of the injured?
1. Check alertness
2. Take temperatures
3. Palpate pulses
4. Measure blood pressure correct answers 3. Palpate pulses
The heart rate and regularity would indicate if the client is in shock or has potential for shock. If
the pulses could not be easily palpated or are irregular, those clients would need to be seen first
and further assessment by the nurse could be done (including measuring blood pressure). Taking
temperatures is not a priority in this situation.
Exam Questions.
The hospital has sounded the call for a disaster drill on the evening shift. Which of these clients
would the nurse put first on the discharge list in order to make room for a new admission?
1. A newly diagnosed diabetic client with antibiotic induced diarrhea admitted 24 hours ago
2. A middle-aged client with a seven-year history of being ventilator dependent and who was
admitted with bacterial pneumonia eight days ago
3. An older adult client with a history of HTN, hypercholesterolemia and lupus and who was
admitted with Stevens-Johnson syndrome that morning
4. An adolescent with a positive HIV test and who was admitted for acute cellulitis of the lower
leg 48 hours ago correct answers 2. A middle-aged client with a seven-year history of being
ventilator dependent and who was admitted with bacterial pneumonia eight days ago
The best candidate for discharge is one who has a chronic condition and has an established plan
of care. The client who has been on the ventilator for years is most likely stable and could
continue medication therapy at home. The other clients have a risk for instability or are unstable.
The paramedics are transporting a poisoning victim to the local hospital. In which of these cases
does the nurse anticipate that hyperbaric oxygen therapy will be used?
1. A 35 year-old found unconscious with suspected carbon monoxide poisoning
2. A 21 year-old with suspected ethanol intoxication
3. A 2 year-old who ate an undetermined amount of crystal drain cleaner
4. A 6 year-old found sitting on the bathroom floor beside an empty bottle of diazepam (Valium)
correct answers 1. A 35 year-old found unconscious with suspected carbon monoxide poisoning
Carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning is the leading cause of poisoning in the U.S. It causes severe
hypoxia which is why treatment includes high-dose oxygen; in severe poisoning, hyperbaric
oxygen therapy may be used. Treatment for crystal drain cleaner and diazepam may include
gastric lavage and/or activated charcoal. Treatment for alcohol poisoning may include gastric
lavage, IV fluids and supportive care.
The parents of a toddler ask the nurse how long their child will have to sit in a car seat while in
an automobile. What is the nurse's best response to the parents?
1. "The child must be five years of age to use a regular seat belt"
2. "The child can use a regular seat belt when he can sit still"
3. "Your child must use a car seat until he weighs at least 40 pounds"
4. "You child must reach a height of 50 inches to sit in a seat belt" correct answers 3. "Your child
must use a car seat until he weighs at least 40 pounds"
The guidelines for car seats depend on the child's weight, height, age and car type. Children
should use car seats until they weigh 40 pounds (according to the U.S. National Highway Traffic
Safety Administration).
, A client is diagnosed with gastroenteritis, caused by a salmonella infection. Which of these
actions is the primary nursing intervention designed to limit the transmission of salmonella?
1. Wash hands thoroughly with soap and water before and after client contact
2. Decontaminate hands with alcohol-based skin disinfectant after client contact
3. Isolate the client in a single room without a roommate
4. Wear two pairs of gloves when changing contaminated linens correct answers 1. Wash hands
thoroughly with soap and water before and after client contact
Salmonella is a bacteria and one of the causes of gastroenteritis. Gastroenteritis is characterized
by acute onset of nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps and/or diarrhea. The CDC recommends
using standard precautions for this illness, which is why the primary nursing intervention is
thorough handwashing before and after client contact using soap and water. Skin disinfectants
can reduce the number of bacteria on the hands but cannot replace the importance of washing
with soap and water. Clients do not need to be placed in isolation; symptomatic clients can be
cohorted. Double-gloving can be effective in surgery, but it's probably not needed when
changing contaminated linens.
The charge nurse on the evening shift is asked to determine which client is a candidate for
discharge. Which of these clients should the nurse select as a potential candidate for discharge?
1. A middle-aged adult with a history of type 1 diabetes and one day post diabetic ketoacidosis
2. An adolescent, admitted on the day shift to rule out acute pancreatitis, who report a history of
alcohol abuse, with a current blood sugar of 90
3. An older adult female who is actively dying and has a "do not resuscitate" order
4. A young adult, admitted at the beginning of the shift, with an exacerbation of asthma correct
answers 1. A middle-aged adult with a history of type 1 diabetes and one day post diabetic
ketoacidosis
The client selected to be discharged should be one whose condition is more stable than the others
and where there's less of a risk for complications or instability after discharge. Although the
client with asthma has a chronic condition, s/he was just admitted and is experiencing an acute
exacerbation of the condition. The adolescent is experiencing an acute condition, probably
brought on by his/her alcohol abuse. Neither of these clients are stable enough for discharge. It is
a humane choice to allow the client who is in the process of dying to stay in the hospital.
After an explosion at a factory, one of the employees approaches the nurse and says, "I am a
certified nursing assistant (CNA) at the local hospital." Which of these tasks would be
appropriate for the nurse to assign to this worker who is assisting in the care of the injured?
1. Check alertness
2. Take temperatures
3. Palpate pulses
4. Measure blood pressure correct answers 3. Palpate pulses
The heart rate and regularity would indicate if the client is in shock or has potential for shock. If
the pulses could not be easily palpated or are irregular, those clients would need to be seen first
and further assessment by the nurse could be done (including measuring blood pressure). Taking
temperatures is not a priority in this situation.
