Safety and Infection Control
1. When entering a client’s room to change a surgical dressing, a nurse notes that the client is coughing and
sneezing. Which of the following actions should the nurse take when preparing the sterile field?
A. Keep the sterile field at least 6 ft away from the client’s bedside.
B. Instruct the client to refrain from coughing and sneezing during the dressing change.
C. Place a mask on the client to limit the spread of microorganisms into the surgical wound.
D. Keep a box of facial tissues nearby for the client to use during the dressing change.
2. A nurse has removed a sterile pack from its outside cover and placed it on a clean work surface in preparation
for an invasive procedure. Which of the following flaps should the nurse unfold first?
A. The flap closest to the body
B. The right side flap
C. The left side flap
D. The flap farthest from the body
3. A nurse is wearing sterile gloves in preparation for performing a sterile procedure. Which of the following
objects can the nurse touch without breaching the sterile technique? (Select all that apply.)
A. A bottle containing a sterile solution
B. The edge of the sterile drape at the base of the field
C. The inner wrapping of an item on the sterile field
D. An irrigation syringe on the sterile field
E. One gloved hand with the other gloved hand
4. A nurse is reviewing hand hygiene techniques with a group of assistive personnel (AP). Which of the
following instructions should the nurse include when discussing handwashing? (Select all that apply.)
A. Apply 3 to 5 mL of liquid soap to dry hands.
B. Wash the hands with soap and water for at least 15 seconds.
C. Rinse the hands with hot water.
D. Use a clean paper towel to turn off hand faucets.
E. Allow the hands to air dry after washing.
5. A nurse has prepared a sterile field for assisting a provider with a chest tube insertion. Which of the following
events should the nurse recognize as contaminating the sterile field? (Select all that apply.)
A. The provider drops a sterile instrument onto the near side of the sterile field.
B. The nurse moistens a cotton ball with sterile normal saline and places it on the sterile field.
C. The procedure is delayed 1 hr because the provider receives an emergency call.
D. The nurse turns to speak to someone who enters through the door behind the nurse.
E. The client’s hand brushes against the outer edge of the sterile field.
1. A nurse is caring for a client who has severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). The nurse knows that
health care professionals are required to report communicable and infectious diseases. Which of the following
illustrates the rationale for reporting? (Select all that apply.)
A. Planning and evaluating control and prevention strategies
B. Determining public health priorities
C. Ensuring proper medical treatment
D. Identifying endemic disease
E. Monitoring for common-source outbreaks
, 2. A nurse is caring for a client who has had a cough for 3 weeks and is beginning to cough up blood. The client
has manifestations of which of the following conditions?
A. Allergic reaction
B. Ringworm
C. Systemic lupus erythematosus
D. Tuberculosis
3. A nurse is caring for a client who reports a severe sore throat, pain when swallowing, and swollen lymph
nodes. The client is experiencing which of the following stages of infection?
A. Prodromal
B. Incubation
C. Convalescence
D. Illness
4. A charge nurse is reviewing with a newly hired nurse the difference in manifestations of a localized versus a
systemic infection. Which of the following are manifestations of a systemic infection? (Select all that apply.)
A. Fever
B. Malaise
C. Edema
D. Pain or tenderness
E. Increase in pulse and respiratory rate
5. A nurse is contributing to the plan of care for a client who is being admitted to the facility with a suspected
diagnosis of pertussis. Which of the following interventions should the nurse include? (Select all that apply.)
A. Place the client in a room that has negative air pressure of at least six exchanges per hour.
B. Wear a mask when providing care within 3 ft of the client.
C. Place a surgical mask on the client if transportation to another department is unavoidable.
D. Use sterile gloves when handling soiled linens.
E. Wear a gown when performing care that might result in contamination from secretions.
1. A nurse is caring for a client who fell at a nursing home. The client is oriented to person, place, and time and
can follow directions. Which of the following actions should the nurse take to decrease the risk of another fall?
(Select all that apply.)
A. Place a belt restraint on the client when they are sitting on the bedside commode.
B. Keep the bed in its lowest position with all side rails up.
C. Make sure that the client’s call light is within reach.
D. Provide the client with nonskid footwear.
E. Complete a fall-risk assessment.
2. A nurse manager is reviewing with nurses on the unit in the care of a client who has had a seizure. Which of
the following statements by a nurse requires further instruction?
A. “I will place the client on their side.”
B. “I will go to the nurses’ station for assistance.”
C. “I will note the time that the seizure begins.”
D. “I will prepare to insert an airway.”
1. When entering a client’s room to change a surgical dressing, a nurse notes that the client is coughing and
sneezing. Which of the following actions should the nurse take when preparing the sterile field?
A. Keep the sterile field at least 6 ft away from the client’s bedside.
B. Instruct the client to refrain from coughing and sneezing during the dressing change.
C. Place a mask on the client to limit the spread of microorganisms into the surgical wound.
D. Keep a box of facial tissues nearby for the client to use during the dressing change.
2. A nurse has removed a sterile pack from its outside cover and placed it on a clean work surface in preparation
for an invasive procedure. Which of the following flaps should the nurse unfold first?
A. The flap closest to the body
B. The right side flap
C. The left side flap
D. The flap farthest from the body
3. A nurse is wearing sterile gloves in preparation for performing a sterile procedure. Which of the following
objects can the nurse touch without breaching the sterile technique? (Select all that apply.)
A. A bottle containing a sterile solution
B. The edge of the sterile drape at the base of the field
C. The inner wrapping of an item on the sterile field
D. An irrigation syringe on the sterile field
E. One gloved hand with the other gloved hand
4. A nurse is reviewing hand hygiene techniques with a group of assistive personnel (AP). Which of the
following instructions should the nurse include when discussing handwashing? (Select all that apply.)
A. Apply 3 to 5 mL of liquid soap to dry hands.
B. Wash the hands with soap and water for at least 15 seconds.
C. Rinse the hands with hot water.
D. Use a clean paper towel to turn off hand faucets.
E. Allow the hands to air dry after washing.
5. A nurse has prepared a sterile field for assisting a provider with a chest tube insertion. Which of the following
events should the nurse recognize as contaminating the sterile field? (Select all that apply.)
A. The provider drops a sterile instrument onto the near side of the sterile field.
B. The nurse moistens a cotton ball with sterile normal saline and places it on the sterile field.
C. The procedure is delayed 1 hr because the provider receives an emergency call.
D. The nurse turns to speak to someone who enters through the door behind the nurse.
E. The client’s hand brushes against the outer edge of the sterile field.
1. A nurse is caring for a client who has severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). The nurse knows that
health care professionals are required to report communicable and infectious diseases. Which of the following
illustrates the rationale for reporting? (Select all that apply.)
A. Planning and evaluating control and prevention strategies
B. Determining public health priorities
C. Ensuring proper medical treatment
D. Identifying endemic disease
E. Monitoring for common-source outbreaks
, 2. A nurse is caring for a client who has had a cough for 3 weeks and is beginning to cough up blood. The client
has manifestations of which of the following conditions?
A. Allergic reaction
B. Ringworm
C. Systemic lupus erythematosus
D. Tuberculosis
3. A nurse is caring for a client who reports a severe sore throat, pain when swallowing, and swollen lymph
nodes. The client is experiencing which of the following stages of infection?
A. Prodromal
B. Incubation
C. Convalescence
D. Illness
4. A charge nurse is reviewing with a newly hired nurse the difference in manifestations of a localized versus a
systemic infection. Which of the following are manifestations of a systemic infection? (Select all that apply.)
A. Fever
B. Malaise
C. Edema
D. Pain or tenderness
E. Increase in pulse and respiratory rate
5. A nurse is contributing to the plan of care for a client who is being admitted to the facility with a suspected
diagnosis of pertussis. Which of the following interventions should the nurse include? (Select all that apply.)
A. Place the client in a room that has negative air pressure of at least six exchanges per hour.
B. Wear a mask when providing care within 3 ft of the client.
C. Place a surgical mask on the client if transportation to another department is unavoidable.
D. Use sterile gloves when handling soiled linens.
E. Wear a gown when performing care that might result in contamination from secretions.
1. A nurse is caring for a client who fell at a nursing home. The client is oriented to person, place, and time and
can follow directions. Which of the following actions should the nurse take to decrease the risk of another fall?
(Select all that apply.)
A. Place a belt restraint on the client when they are sitting on the bedside commode.
B. Keep the bed in its lowest position with all side rails up.
C. Make sure that the client’s call light is within reach.
D. Provide the client with nonskid footwear.
E. Complete a fall-risk assessment.
2. A nurse manager is reviewing with nurses on the unit in the care of a client who has had a seizure. Which of
the following statements by a nurse requires further instruction?
A. “I will place the client on their side.”
B. “I will go to the nurses’ station for assistance.”
C. “I will note the time that the seizure begins.”
D. “I will prepare to insert an airway.”
