NUR 1020C – Fundamentals of Nursing
Final Exam | 2025/2026 Verified
Questions, Correct Answers &
Rationales
Infection Control & Asepsis (Questions 1-16)
What is the primary purpose of medical asepsis in nursing practice?
A. To completely eliminate all microorganisms from the environment
B. To reduce the number and transfer of pathogens to a safe level
C. To sterilize surgical equipment before procedures
1. D. To isolate patients with airborne infections only
Rationale: Medical asepsis focuses on reducing pathogens to prevent infection
transmission in general care settings, making B correct. Option A describes surgical
asepsis; C is specific to sterilization; D limits scope to one transmission mode.
Which of the following is the most effective method to break the chain of infection at the
reservoir link?
A. Hand hygiene
B. Proper disposal of contaminated waste
C. Use of personal protective equipment (PPE)
2. D. Vaccination of healthcare workers
Rationale: The reservoir is the source of pathogens (e.g., waste), so proper disposal
eliminates it, making B correct. A breaks portal of exit; C and D address susceptible host
or portal of entry.
A nurse is performing surgical hand scrub. What is the minimum duration required for this
procedure?
A. 30 seconds
B. 1 minute
C. 2 minutes
3. D. 5 minutes
Rationale: Surgical hand scrub requires 2 minutes initially to ensure sterility, per CDC
guidelines, making C correct. A and B are for routine handwashing; D is excessive.
Which type of precaution is indicated for a patient with Clostridium difficile infection?
,A. Airborne
B. Droplet
C. Contact
4. D. Standard only
Rationale: C. difficile spreads via contact with feces, requiring contact precautions,
making C correct. A is for airborne pathogens; B for respiratory droplets; D is insufficient
alone.
What is the first action a nurse should take upon exposure to bloodborne pathogens?
A. Continue patient care
B. Wash the affected area immediately with soap and water
C. Apply antiseptic ointment
5. D. Report to supervisor after shift
Rationale: Immediate washing reduces pathogen entry, per OSHA standards, making B
correct. A delays response; C is secondary; D postpones reporting.
In surgical asepsis, what is the maximum distance a sterile field can be from the edge before it
is considered contaminated?
A. 1 inch
B. 2 inches
C. 3 inches
6. D. 6 inches
Rationale: Sterile fields are contaminated beyond 2 inches from edges due to air
currents, making B correct. A is too conservative; C and D exceed limits.
Which microorganism is most resistant to standard disinfection methods?
A. Bacteria
B. Viruses
C. Bacterial spores
7. D. Fungi
Rationale: Bacterial spores (e.g., C. difficile) require sterilization, not disinfection,
making C correct. A, B, and D are less resistant.
A nurse is donning sterile gloves. What indicates contamination?
A. Touching gloves to clean surfaces
B. Reaching over the sterile field
C. Using alcohol-based hand rub first
8. D. Folding cuffs down after donning
Rationale: Reaching over exposes the field to potential contaminants from above,
making B correct. A, C, and D are proper techniques.
, What is the recommended frequency for changing a patient's isolation gown during contact
precautions?
A. Once per shift
B. With each patient contact
C. Daily
9. D. Only if soiled
Rationale: Gowns must be changed per contact to prevent cross-contamination, per
CDC, making B correct. A, C, and D increase risk.
Which hand hygiene agent is most effective against norovirus?
A. Alcohol-based sanitizer
B. Soap and water
C. Chlorhexidine gluconate
10.D. Iodine solution
Rationale: Norovirus requires mechanical removal via soap and water, as alcohol is
ineffective, making B correct. A, C, and D do not suffice alone.
What is nosocomial infection?
A. Community-acquired
B. Healthcare-associated
C. Foodborne
11.D. Vector-borne
Rationale: Nosocomial means acquired in healthcare settings, making B correct. A is
opposite; C and D are unrelated transmission types.
During sterile procedure, a nurse's mask becomes moist. What should be done?
A. Continue until completion
B. Replace the mask immediately
C. Wipe with sterile gauze
12.D. Ignore if no symptoms
Rationale: Moisture allows pathogen penetration, requiring immediate replacement,
making B correct. A, C, and D compromise sterility.
Which is a key component of the infection cycle?
A. Nutrition
B. Portal of exit
C. Mobility
13.D. Hydration
Rationale: Portal of exit is essential for pathogen escape from reservoir, making B
correct. A, C, and D relate to host susceptibility, not cycle.
Final Exam | 2025/2026 Verified
Questions, Correct Answers &
Rationales
Infection Control & Asepsis (Questions 1-16)
What is the primary purpose of medical asepsis in nursing practice?
A. To completely eliminate all microorganisms from the environment
B. To reduce the number and transfer of pathogens to a safe level
C. To sterilize surgical equipment before procedures
1. D. To isolate patients with airborne infections only
Rationale: Medical asepsis focuses on reducing pathogens to prevent infection
transmission in general care settings, making B correct. Option A describes surgical
asepsis; C is specific to sterilization; D limits scope to one transmission mode.
Which of the following is the most effective method to break the chain of infection at the
reservoir link?
A. Hand hygiene
B. Proper disposal of contaminated waste
C. Use of personal protective equipment (PPE)
2. D. Vaccination of healthcare workers
Rationale: The reservoir is the source of pathogens (e.g., waste), so proper disposal
eliminates it, making B correct. A breaks portal of exit; C and D address susceptible host
or portal of entry.
A nurse is performing surgical hand scrub. What is the minimum duration required for this
procedure?
A. 30 seconds
B. 1 minute
C. 2 minutes
3. D. 5 minutes
Rationale: Surgical hand scrub requires 2 minutes initially to ensure sterility, per CDC
guidelines, making C correct. A and B are for routine handwashing; D is excessive.
Which type of precaution is indicated for a patient with Clostridium difficile infection?
,A. Airborne
B. Droplet
C. Contact
4. D. Standard only
Rationale: C. difficile spreads via contact with feces, requiring contact precautions,
making C correct. A is for airborne pathogens; B for respiratory droplets; D is insufficient
alone.
What is the first action a nurse should take upon exposure to bloodborne pathogens?
A. Continue patient care
B. Wash the affected area immediately with soap and water
C. Apply antiseptic ointment
5. D. Report to supervisor after shift
Rationale: Immediate washing reduces pathogen entry, per OSHA standards, making B
correct. A delays response; C is secondary; D postpones reporting.
In surgical asepsis, what is the maximum distance a sterile field can be from the edge before it
is considered contaminated?
A. 1 inch
B. 2 inches
C. 3 inches
6. D. 6 inches
Rationale: Sterile fields are contaminated beyond 2 inches from edges due to air
currents, making B correct. A is too conservative; C and D exceed limits.
Which microorganism is most resistant to standard disinfection methods?
A. Bacteria
B. Viruses
C. Bacterial spores
7. D. Fungi
Rationale: Bacterial spores (e.g., C. difficile) require sterilization, not disinfection,
making C correct. A, B, and D are less resistant.
A nurse is donning sterile gloves. What indicates contamination?
A. Touching gloves to clean surfaces
B. Reaching over the sterile field
C. Using alcohol-based hand rub first
8. D. Folding cuffs down after donning
Rationale: Reaching over exposes the field to potential contaminants from above,
making B correct. A, C, and D are proper techniques.
, What is the recommended frequency for changing a patient's isolation gown during contact
precautions?
A. Once per shift
B. With each patient contact
C. Daily
9. D. Only if soiled
Rationale: Gowns must be changed per contact to prevent cross-contamination, per
CDC, making B correct. A, C, and D increase risk.
Which hand hygiene agent is most effective against norovirus?
A. Alcohol-based sanitizer
B. Soap and water
C. Chlorhexidine gluconate
10.D. Iodine solution
Rationale: Norovirus requires mechanical removal via soap and water, as alcohol is
ineffective, making B correct. A, C, and D do not suffice alone.
What is nosocomial infection?
A. Community-acquired
B. Healthcare-associated
C. Foodborne
11.D. Vector-borne
Rationale: Nosocomial means acquired in healthcare settings, making B correct. A is
opposite; C and D are unrelated transmission types.
During sterile procedure, a nurse's mask becomes moist. What should be done?
A. Continue until completion
B. Replace the mask immediately
C. Wipe with sterile gauze
12.D. Ignore if no symptoms
Rationale: Moisture allows pathogen penetration, requiring immediate replacement,
making B correct. A, C, and D compromise sterility.
Which is a key component of the infection cycle?
A. Nutrition
B. Portal of exit
C. Mobility
13.D. Hydration
Rationale: Portal of exit is essential for pathogen escape from reservoir, making B
correct. A, C, and D relate to host susceptibility, not cycle.
