Leigh
NSG 321 Nursing Fundamentals Exam: Hygiene, Mobility, Infection
Control Practice Questions + Detailed Rationales
1. A nurse is educating patients about the CDC’s national safety initiative that
encourages patients to question providers about hand hygiene. What is this
program called?
A. Clean Hands Initiative
B. Speak Up Program
C. Zero Infection Campaign
D. Patient Safety Now
Correct Answer: B. Speak Up Program
Rationale: The CDC Speak Up Program encourages patients to speak up if they
notice caregivers not washing hands or using proper hygiene. It is part of national
patient-safety advocacy.
2. A nurse prepares to use alcohol-based hand rub. In which situation is this
appropriate?
A. After assisting a patient with C. difficile
B. When hands are not visibly soiled
C. After touching blood and body fluids
D. Before eating a snack
Correct Answer: B. When hands are not visibly soiled
Rationale: Alcohol-based rub is effective only when hands are NOT visibly dirty.
C. diff and bodily fluids require soap and water.
3. The nurse demonstrates proper hand hygiene by using antimicrobial soap and
water for how long?
A. 5 seconds
B. 15–20 seconds
,Leigh
C. 45 seconds
D. 2 minutes
Correct Answer: B. 15–20 seconds
Rationale: CDC guidelines require vigorous rubbing with friction for 15–20
seconds for standard clinical handwashing.
4. The nurse should wash hands with soap and water in which situation?
A. Before palpating pulses
B. When hands are visibly soiled
C. Before donning gloves
D. After removing PPE
Correct Answer: B. When hands are visibly soiled
Rationale: Visible soil or debris requires soap and water, not hand sanitizer.
5. A nurse uses alcohol-based hand rub after which activity?
A. After assisting a patient with fecal incontinence
B. Before and after direct patient contact
C. After caring for a patient with C. diff
D. Before eating
Correct Answer: B. Before and after direct patient contact
Rationale: Alcohol rub is used for routine direct contact when hands are not
visibly dirty.
6. The nurse anticipates using sterile gloves for which situation?
A. Bathing a patient
B. When blood exposure is possible
C. Feeding a patient
D. Turning a patient
, Leigh
Correct Answer: B. When blood exposure is possible
Rationale: Sterile gloves are needed when sterility must be maintained and
blood/body fluids are involved.
7. What must the nurse do when caring for a patient with suspected C. difficile?
A. Use alcohol rub after care
B. Wash hands with soap and water
C. Wear sterile gloves only
D. Limit oral fluids
Correct Answer: B. Wash hands with soap and water
Rationale: C. difficile spores cannot be killed with alcohol rub; soap and water is
required.
8. C. difficile infection is best described as:
A. Lung infection causing cough
B. GI infection causing severe diarrhea
C. Virus spread by droplets
D. Fungus affecting the urinary tract
Correct Answer: B. GI infection causing severe diarrhea
Rationale: C. diff is a bacterial intestinal infection, leading to watery diarrhea and
dehydration.
9. Which poses an infection-control concern for healthcare workers?
A. Painted toenails
B. Wearing rings or long nails
C. Wearing minimal makeup
D. Clean short hair
Correct Answer: B. Wearing rings or long nails
NSG 321 Nursing Fundamentals Exam: Hygiene, Mobility, Infection
Control Practice Questions + Detailed Rationales
1. A nurse is educating patients about the CDC’s national safety initiative that
encourages patients to question providers about hand hygiene. What is this
program called?
A. Clean Hands Initiative
B. Speak Up Program
C. Zero Infection Campaign
D. Patient Safety Now
Correct Answer: B. Speak Up Program
Rationale: The CDC Speak Up Program encourages patients to speak up if they
notice caregivers not washing hands or using proper hygiene. It is part of national
patient-safety advocacy.
2. A nurse prepares to use alcohol-based hand rub. In which situation is this
appropriate?
A. After assisting a patient with C. difficile
B. When hands are not visibly soiled
C. After touching blood and body fluids
D. Before eating a snack
Correct Answer: B. When hands are not visibly soiled
Rationale: Alcohol-based rub is effective only when hands are NOT visibly dirty.
C. diff and bodily fluids require soap and water.
3. The nurse demonstrates proper hand hygiene by using antimicrobial soap and
water for how long?
A. 5 seconds
B. 15–20 seconds
,Leigh
C. 45 seconds
D. 2 minutes
Correct Answer: B. 15–20 seconds
Rationale: CDC guidelines require vigorous rubbing with friction for 15–20
seconds for standard clinical handwashing.
4. The nurse should wash hands with soap and water in which situation?
A. Before palpating pulses
B. When hands are visibly soiled
C. Before donning gloves
D. After removing PPE
Correct Answer: B. When hands are visibly soiled
Rationale: Visible soil or debris requires soap and water, not hand sanitizer.
5. A nurse uses alcohol-based hand rub after which activity?
A. After assisting a patient with fecal incontinence
B. Before and after direct patient contact
C. After caring for a patient with C. diff
D. Before eating
Correct Answer: B. Before and after direct patient contact
Rationale: Alcohol rub is used for routine direct contact when hands are not
visibly dirty.
6. The nurse anticipates using sterile gloves for which situation?
A. Bathing a patient
B. When blood exposure is possible
C. Feeding a patient
D. Turning a patient
, Leigh
Correct Answer: B. When blood exposure is possible
Rationale: Sterile gloves are needed when sterility must be maintained and
blood/body fluids are involved.
7. What must the nurse do when caring for a patient with suspected C. difficile?
A. Use alcohol rub after care
B. Wash hands with soap and water
C. Wear sterile gloves only
D. Limit oral fluids
Correct Answer: B. Wash hands with soap and water
Rationale: C. difficile spores cannot be killed with alcohol rub; soap and water is
required.
8. C. difficile infection is best described as:
A. Lung infection causing cough
B. GI infection causing severe diarrhea
C. Virus spread by droplets
D. Fungus affecting the urinary tract
Correct Answer: B. GI infection causing severe diarrhea
Rationale: C. diff is a bacterial intestinal infection, leading to watery diarrhea and
dehydration.
9. Which poses an infection-control concern for healthcare workers?
A. Painted toenails
B. Wearing rings or long nails
C. Wearing minimal makeup
D. Clean short hair
Correct Answer: B. Wearing rings or long nails
