NUR 1020C – Fundamentals of Nursing Final
Exam | 2025/2026 Verified Questions, Correct
Answers & Rationales
Section 1: Infection Control (Questions 1-15)
A nurse is caring for a client with a suspected Clostridium difficile infection. Which isolation precaution
should the nurse implement?
A. Airborne precautions
B. Droplet precautions
C. Contact precautions
D. Standard precautions only
C. Contact precautionsRationale: Clostridium difficile is transmitted via contact with contaminated
surfaces or hands. Contact precautions, including gloves and gowns, are required in addition to standard
precautions to prevent spread, as per CDC guidelines for infection control in healthcare settings (2025
update).
During a shift, a nurse notices a colleague not performing hand hygiene after removing gloves. What is
the appropriate action?
A. Ignore it to avoid conflict
B. Report it to the supervisor immediately
C. Remind the colleague politely about the policy
D. Document it in the incident report
C. Remind the colleague politely about the policyRationale: Promoting a culture of safety involves
immediate, non-punitive reminders to reinforce hand hygiene practices, which are critical for preventing
healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) according to the Joint Commission's National Patient Safety
Goals (NPSGs) for 2025.
A client is prescribed vancomycin for a methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection.
What nursing intervention is priority?
A. Monitor for ototoxicity
B. Assess renal function regularly
C. Administer with food
D. Check blood glucose levels
B. Assess renal function regularlyRationale: Vancomycin is nephrotoxic; monitoring renal function (e.g.,
creatinine levels) is essential to prevent kidney damage, aligned with evidence-based antimicrobial
stewardship practices in the 2025 CDC Infection Control Guidelines.
Which client is at highest risk for developing a healthcare-associated infection?
A. A 25-year-old post-appendectomy client
B. A 70-year-old with diabetes and an indwelling catheter
C. A 40-year-old with a sprained ankle
D. A 50-year-old post-vaccination client
,B. A 70-year-old with diabetes and an indwelling catheterRationale: Older adults with comorbidities like
diabetes and invasive devices (e.g., catheters) have impaired immune responses and increased
susceptibility to HAIs, as outlined in the 2025 Nursing Fundamentals standards for risk assessment.
The nurse is educating a client on preventing surgical site infections. Which statement is most accurate?
A. "Shower with regular soap the night before surgery."
B. "Use chlorhexidine soap for preoperative skin preparation."
C. "Apply antibiotic ointment to the incision site daily."
D. "Avoid shaving the surgical area at home."
D. "Avoid shaving the surgical area at home."Rationale: Shaving can cause microabrasions increasing
infection risk; clipping is preferred if needed. This is based on the 2025 CDC guidelines for surgical site
infection prevention.
What is the correct sequence for donning personal protective equipment (PPE)?
A. Gown, mask, goggles, gloves
B. Gloves, gown, mask, goggles
C. Mask, gown, goggles, gloves
D. Goggles, mask, gown, gloves
A. Gown, mask, goggles, glovesRationale: The CDC-recommended sequence ensures protection from
contamination, starting with the gown to cover the body, followed by mask and goggles for face
protection, and gloves last to overlap the gown cuffs (2025 standards).
A nurse is caring for a client on airborne precautions for tuberculosis. Which action is appropriate?
A. Use a surgical mask when entering the room
B. Keep the door open for ventilation
C. Fit-test an N95 respirator before entry
D. Allow visitors without masks
C. Fit-test an N95 respirator before entryRationale: Airborne precautions require an N95 respirator to
filter small particles; fit-testing ensures efficacy, per OSHA and CDC respiratory protection standards
updated in 2025.
Which is an example of breaking the chain of infection at the portal of exit?
A. Hand hygiene
B. Covering the mouth when coughing
C. Vaccinations
D. Disinfecting surfaces
B. Covering the mouth when coughingRationale: Covering the mouth prevents pathogens from exiting the
respiratory tract, interrupting the chain of infection as per foundational nursing principles in Potter &
Perry's Fundamentals of Nursing (2025 edition).
The nurse identifies a client with a weakened immune system. What intervention reduces infection risk?
A. Encourage raw fruits in diet
B. Limit visitors during flu season
C. Use alcohol-based hand rubs only
D. Allow live plants in the room
B. Limit visitors during flu seasonRationale: Limiting exposure to potential pathogens from visitors is key
for immunocompromised clients, supported by evidence from the 2025 Immunocompromised Patient
Care Guidelines.
What is the minimum duration for effective handwashing with soap and water?
, A. 10 seconds
B. 20 seconds
C. 30 seconds
D. 60 seconds
B. 20 secondsRationale: The CDC recommends at least 20 seconds of scrubbing to remove transient flora,
a core practice in infection prevention (2025 update).
A client develops a rash after starting a new antibiotic. What is the nurse's priority action?
A. Continue the medication
B. Apply lotion to the rash
C. Notify the provider
D. Document the finding only
C. Notify the providerRationale: A rash may indicate an allergic reaction; prompt notification prevents
escalation, aligning with patient safety protocols in the 2025 NPSGs.
Which disinfectant is effective against bloodborne pathogens?
A. Alcohol wipes
B. Bleach solution
C. Soap and water
D. Hydrogen peroxide
B. Bleach solutionRationale: A 1:10 bleach solution is EPA-approved for disinfecting surfaces
contaminated with bloodborne pathogens like HIV and HBV (2025 OSHA standards).
The nurse is preparing to administer an intramuscular injection. What technique minimizes infection risk?
A. Use a 25-gauge needle
B. Aspirate before injecting
C. Clean the site with alcohol
D. Massage the site post-injection
C. Clean the site with alcoholRationale: Skin cleansing with 70% alcohol reduces microbial load at the
injection site, a standard practice in the 2025 Injection Safety Guidelines.
What is a key indicator of a systemic infection?
A. Localized redness
B. Fever and malaise
C. Swelling at the site
D. Pain on palpation
B. Fever and malaiseRationale: Systemic infections manifest with fever, elevated WBCs, and malaise due
to widespread inflammatory response, as described in foundational nursing texts (2025).
The nurse is teaching about standard precautions. Which statement is correct?
A. "Apply to all clients regardless of diagnosis."
B. "Used only for known infections."
C. "Include masks for all interactions."
D. "Require private rooms always."
A. "Apply to all clients regardless of diagnosis."Rationale: Standard precautions treat all blood and body
fluids as potentially infectious, a universal approach in CDC guidelines (2025).
Section 2: Patient Safety (Questions 16-30)
Exam | 2025/2026 Verified Questions, Correct
Answers & Rationales
Section 1: Infection Control (Questions 1-15)
A nurse is caring for a client with a suspected Clostridium difficile infection. Which isolation precaution
should the nurse implement?
A. Airborne precautions
B. Droplet precautions
C. Contact precautions
D. Standard precautions only
C. Contact precautionsRationale: Clostridium difficile is transmitted via contact with contaminated
surfaces or hands. Contact precautions, including gloves and gowns, are required in addition to standard
precautions to prevent spread, as per CDC guidelines for infection control in healthcare settings (2025
update).
During a shift, a nurse notices a colleague not performing hand hygiene after removing gloves. What is
the appropriate action?
A. Ignore it to avoid conflict
B. Report it to the supervisor immediately
C. Remind the colleague politely about the policy
D. Document it in the incident report
C. Remind the colleague politely about the policyRationale: Promoting a culture of safety involves
immediate, non-punitive reminders to reinforce hand hygiene practices, which are critical for preventing
healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) according to the Joint Commission's National Patient Safety
Goals (NPSGs) for 2025.
A client is prescribed vancomycin for a methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection.
What nursing intervention is priority?
A. Monitor for ototoxicity
B. Assess renal function regularly
C. Administer with food
D. Check blood glucose levels
B. Assess renal function regularlyRationale: Vancomycin is nephrotoxic; monitoring renal function (e.g.,
creatinine levels) is essential to prevent kidney damage, aligned with evidence-based antimicrobial
stewardship practices in the 2025 CDC Infection Control Guidelines.
Which client is at highest risk for developing a healthcare-associated infection?
A. A 25-year-old post-appendectomy client
B. A 70-year-old with diabetes and an indwelling catheter
C. A 40-year-old with a sprained ankle
D. A 50-year-old post-vaccination client
,B. A 70-year-old with diabetes and an indwelling catheterRationale: Older adults with comorbidities like
diabetes and invasive devices (e.g., catheters) have impaired immune responses and increased
susceptibility to HAIs, as outlined in the 2025 Nursing Fundamentals standards for risk assessment.
The nurse is educating a client on preventing surgical site infections. Which statement is most accurate?
A. "Shower with regular soap the night before surgery."
B. "Use chlorhexidine soap for preoperative skin preparation."
C. "Apply antibiotic ointment to the incision site daily."
D. "Avoid shaving the surgical area at home."
D. "Avoid shaving the surgical area at home."Rationale: Shaving can cause microabrasions increasing
infection risk; clipping is preferred if needed. This is based on the 2025 CDC guidelines for surgical site
infection prevention.
What is the correct sequence for donning personal protective equipment (PPE)?
A. Gown, mask, goggles, gloves
B. Gloves, gown, mask, goggles
C. Mask, gown, goggles, gloves
D. Goggles, mask, gown, gloves
A. Gown, mask, goggles, glovesRationale: The CDC-recommended sequence ensures protection from
contamination, starting with the gown to cover the body, followed by mask and goggles for face
protection, and gloves last to overlap the gown cuffs (2025 standards).
A nurse is caring for a client on airborne precautions for tuberculosis. Which action is appropriate?
A. Use a surgical mask when entering the room
B. Keep the door open for ventilation
C. Fit-test an N95 respirator before entry
D. Allow visitors without masks
C. Fit-test an N95 respirator before entryRationale: Airborne precautions require an N95 respirator to
filter small particles; fit-testing ensures efficacy, per OSHA and CDC respiratory protection standards
updated in 2025.
Which is an example of breaking the chain of infection at the portal of exit?
A. Hand hygiene
B. Covering the mouth when coughing
C. Vaccinations
D. Disinfecting surfaces
B. Covering the mouth when coughingRationale: Covering the mouth prevents pathogens from exiting the
respiratory tract, interrupting the chain of infection as per foundational nursing principles in Potter &
Perry's Fundamentals of Nursing (2025 edition).
The nurse identifies a client with a weakened immune system. What intervention reduces infection risk?
A. Encourage raw fruits in diet
B. Limit visitors during flu season
C. Use alcohol-based hand rubs only
D. Allow live plants in the room
B. Limit visitors during flu seasonRationale: Limiting exposure to potential pathogens from visitors is key
for immunocompromised clients, supported by evidence from the 2025 Immunocompromised Patient
Care Guidelines.
What is the minimum duration for effective handwashing with soap and water?
, A. 10 seconds
B. 20 seconds
C. 30 seconds
D. 60 seconds
B. 20 secondsRationale: The CDC recommends at least 20 seconds of scrubbing to remove transient flora,
a core practice in infection prevention (2025 update).
A client develops a rash after starting a new antibiotic. What is the nurse's priority action?
A. Continue the medication
B. Apply lotion to the rash
C. Notify the provider
D. Document the finding only
C. Notify the providerRationale: A rash may indicate an allergic reaction; prompt notification prevents
escalation, aligning with patient safety protocols in the 2025 NPSGs.
Which disinfectant is effective against bloodborne pathogens?
A. Alcohol wipes
B. Bleach solution
C. Soap and water
D. Hydrogen peroxide
B. Bleach solutionRationale: A 1:10 bleach solution is EPA-approved for disinfecting surfaces
contaminated with bloodborne pathogens like HIV and HBV (2025 OSHA standards).
The nurse is preparing to administer an intramuscular injection. What technique minimizes infection risk?
A. Use a 25-gauge needle
B. Aspirate before injecting
C. Clean the site with alcohol
D. Massage the site post-injection
C. Clean the site with alcoholRationale: Skin cleansing with 70% alcohol reduces microbial load at the
injection site, a standard practice in the 2025 Injection Safety Guidelines.
What is a key indicator of a systemic infection?
A. Localized redness
B. Fever and malaise
C. Swelling at the site
D. Pain on palpation
B. Fever and malaiseRationale: Systemic infections manifest with fever, elevated WBCs, and malaise due
to widespread inflammatory response, as described in foundational nursing texts (2025).
The nurse is teaching about standard precautions. Which statement is correct?
A. "Apply to all clients regardless of diagnosis."
B. "Used only for known infections."
C. "Include masks for all interactions."
D. "Require private rooms always."
A. "Apply to all clients regardless of diagnosis."Rationale: Standard precautions treat all blood and body
fluids as potentially infectious, a universal approach in CDC guidelines (2025).
Section 2: Patient Safety (Questions 16-30)
