NURS 103 | Fundamentals of Nursing | Patient Safety & Infection
Control | 2026/2027 Update WCU
1. When preparing a sterile field, which action by the nurse would most likely
contaminate the sterile area?
A. Reaching over the sterile field to pick up a sterile instrument.
B. Placing a sterile gauze pad within the 1-inch border of the drape.
C. Opening the outermost flap of the sterile kit away from the body.
D. Keeping sterile gloved hands above the level of the waist.
Answer: A
Rationale: Reaching over a sterile field is a major contamination risk because
microorganisms from clothing or skin can fall onto the field. The 1-inch border is
considered contaminated; therefore, items should be placed in the center.
2. A patient is admitted with suspected pulmonary tuberculosis. Which type of
isolation precautions should the nurse implement immediately?
A. Contact Precautions
B. Droplet Precautions
C. Standard Precautions only
D. Airborne Precautions
Answer: D
Rationale: Tuberculosis is transmitted via small droplets that remain suspended in the air.
This requires Airborne Precautions, including a private room with negative pressure and
the use of an N95 respirator.
,3. During which stage of infection is a patient most likely to be infectious while
exhibiting only vague, non-specific symptoms?
A. Prodromal stage
B. Incubation period
C. Full stage of illness
D. Convalescent period
Answer: A
Rationale: The prodromal stage is characterized by vague and non-specific symptoms.
During this stage, the person is often most infectious because they do not yet realize they
are truly ill.
4. A nurse is caring for a patient with Clostridioides difficile (C. diff). Which hand
hygiene practice is mandatory?
A. Washing hands with soap and water.
B. Using an alcohol-based hand rub for 15 seconds.
C. Using sterile water and iodine.
D. Applying chlorhexidine gluconate without rinsing.
Answer: A
Rationale: Alcohol-based rubs are ineffective against C. diff spores. Physical scrubbing
with soap and water is required to mechanically remove spores from the hands.
5. What is the correct sequence for dawning Personal Protective Equipment
(PPE)?
A. Gloves, Mask, Goggles, Gown
B. Goggles, Gloves, Mask, Gown
C. Mask, Gown, Gloves, Goggles
D. Gown, Mask, Goggles, Gloves
Answer: D
, Rationale: The standard CDC donning sequence is Gown, then Mask or Respirator, then
Goggles or Face Shield, and finally Gloves.
6. A nurse is performing a sterile procedure. Which of the following objects is
considered sterile?
A. A sterile syringe tip that remains inside the sterile package.
B. A sterile glove that touched the 1-inch border of the sterile field.
C. A sterile forcep held below the level of the waist.
D. A sterile package that has been opened but left unattended for 5 minutes.
Answer: A
Rationale: Items held below the waist or left unattended are considered contaminated.
The 1-inch border is also considered non-sterile. The syringe tip inside the package
remains sterile.
7. In the ‘RACE’ acronym for fire safety, what does the ‘C’ stand for?
A. Contain the fire
B. Call for help
C. Carry patients out
D. Check for smoke
Answer: A
Rationale: RACE stands for: Rescue anyone in immediate danger, Alarm (activate fire
code), Contain the fire (close doors/windows), and Extinguish/Evacuate.
8. Which laboratory value is most indicative of a systemic bacterial infection?
A. Creatinine level of 0.8 mg/dL
B. Hemoglobin level of 12 g/dL
C. Platelet count of 200,000/mm3
D. White blood cell (WBC) count of 16,000/mm3
Answer: D
Control | 2026/2027 Update WCU
1. When preparing a sterile field, which action by the nurse would most likely
contaminate the sterile area?
A. Reaching over the sterile field to pick up a sterile instrument.
B. Placing a sterile gauze pad within the 1-inch border of the drape.
C. Opening the outermost flap of the sterile kit away from the body.
D. Keeping sterile gloved hands above the level of the waist.
Answer: A
Rationale: Reaching over a sterile field is a major contamination risk because
microorganisms from clothing or skin can fall onto the field. The 1-inch border is
considered contaminated; therefore, items should be placed in the center.
2. A patient is admitted with suspected pulmonary tuberculosis. Which type of
isolation precautions should the nurse implement immediately?
A. Contact Precautions
B. Droplet Precautions
C. Standard Precautions only
D. Airborne Precautions
Answer: D
Rationale: Tuberculosis is transmitted via small droplets that remain suspended in the air.
This requires Airborne Precautions, including a private room with negative pressure and
the use of an N95 respirator.
,3. During which stage of infection is a patient most likely to be infectious while
exhibiting only vague, non-specific symptoms?
A. Prodromal stage
B. Incubation period
C. Full stage of illness
D. Convalescent period
Answer: A
Rationale: The prodromal stage is characterized by vague and non-specific symptoms.
During this stage, the person is often most infectious because they do not yet realize they
are truly ill.
4. A nurse is caring for a patient with Clostridioides difficile (C. diff). Which hand
hygiene practice is mandatory?
A. Washing hands with soap and water.
B. Using an alcohol-based hand rub for 15 seconds.
C. Using sterile water and iodine.
D. Applying chlorhexidine gluconate without rinsing.
Answer: A
Rationale: Alcohol-based rubs are ineffective against C. diff spores. Physical scrubbing
with soap and water is required to mechanically remove spores from the hands.
5. What is the correct sequence for dawning Personal Protective Equipment
(PPE)?
A. Gloves, Mask, Goggles, Gown
B. Goggles, Gloves, Mask, Gown
C. Mask, Gown, Gloves, Goggles
D. Gown, Mask, Goggles, Gloves
Answer: D
, Rationale: The standard CDC donning sequence is Gown, then Mask or Respirator, then
Goggles or Face Shield, and finally Gloves.
6. A nurse is performing a sterile procedure. Which of the following objects is
considered sterile?
A. A sterile syringe tip that remains inside the sterile package.
B. A sterile glove that touched the 1-inch border of the sterile field.
C. A sterile forcep held below the level of the waist.
D. A sterile package that has been opened but left unattended for 5 minutes.
Answer: A
Rationale: Items held below the waist or left unattended are considered contaminated.
The 1-inch border is also considered non-sterile. The syringe tip inside the package
remains sterile.
7. In the ‘RACE’ acronym for fire safety, what does the ‘C’ stand for?
A. Contain the fire
B. Call for help
C. Carry patients out
D. Check for smoke
Answer: A
Rationale: RACE stands for: Rescue anyone in immediate danger, Alarm (activate fire
code), Contain the fire (close doors/windows), and Extinguish/Evacuate.
8. Which laboratory value is most indicative of a systemic bacterial infection?
A. Creatinine level of 0.8 mg/dL
B. Hemoglobin level of 12 g/dL
C. Platelet count of 200,000/mm3
D. White blood cell (WBC) count of 16,000/mm3
Answer: D
