Test your knowledge on infection control and patient safety with these NCLEX-style questions and answers. Each question includes multiple-choice options, the correct answer, and a clear explanation to help you remember key nursing concepts.
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Infection Control and Safety NCLEX Review Questions
Question 1:
A nurse is caring for a patient and is required to don a gown, gloves, and surgical mask before entering the room. Which condition requires a nurse to use this type of personal protective equipment?
A. Tuberculosis
B. Neisseria meningitis
C. Varicella
D. Measles
Answer:
B. Neisseria meningitis. Neisseria meningitis is a serious bacterial infection causing inflammation of the meninges in the brain and spinal cord. It spreads via large respiratory droplets from sneezing or coughing. Because these droplets travel a short distance and fall quickly, droplet precautions are required, including a surgical mask, gown, and gloves. Other options (tuberculosis, varicella, measles) require airborne precautions with an N95 respirator, gown, gloves, and negative-pressure rooms because their small droplet nuclei linger in the air.
Question 2:
A patient has been diagnosed with a C. difficile (C. diff) infection. Which action by the nurse indicates a need for correction?
A. Donning a gown and gloves before entering the patient’s room
B. Using a disposable stethoscope to perform lung and heart assessments
C. Using a sporicidal agent to clean contaminated surfaces
D. Performing hand hygiene with an alcohol-based sanitizer for 30 seconds after removing PPE
Answer:
D. Performing hand hygiene with an alcohol-based sanitizer. C. diff is a spore-forming, gram-positive bacterium that causes gastrointestinal infections. Its spores are highly resilient and survive on surfaces for long periods. Alcohol-based sanitizers do not kill C. diff spores. Hand hygiene must be performed with soap and water. Contaminated surfaces should be cleaned with sporicidal agents, and gloves and gowns are essential for entry.
Question 3:
A 5-year-old patient is hospitalized with varicella. Which personal protective equipment should the nurse wear before entering the room? (Select all that apply)
A. Surgical mask
B. Gloves
C. N95 respirator
D. Gown
Answer:
B. Gloves, C. N95 respirator, D. Gown. Varicella (chickenpox) is caused by a herpes virus and spreads through airborne droplet nuclei and direct contact with lesions. Surgical masks are insufficient because airborne particles can bypass them. Use an N95 respirator, gown, and gloves, and place the patient in a negative-pressure room.
Question 4:
A nurse is wearing the following PPE: gown, face shield, gloves, and respirator. Which item should the nurse remove first?
A. Gown
B. Face shield
C. Gloves
D. Respirator
Answer:
C. Gloves. When doffing PPE, remove the most contaminated items first. The typical sequence is:
- Gloves
- Gown or face shield (depending on protocol)
- Mask or respirator (last, to maintain respiratory protection)
Remember: “Don” = put on; “Doff” = take off.
Question 5:
A patient is ordered to have a Foley catheter inserted. Which action by the nurse during sterile field setup could cause contamination?
A. Opening the sterile packaging toward the body
B. Touching the outer 1-inch border of the sterile packaging
C. Keeping the sterile field above waist level
D. Positioning sterile items to keep them in view
Answer:
A. Opening the sterile packaging toward the body. Opening sterile packaging toward the body risks contaminating the sterile field. The correct method:
- Open the top flap away from the body
- Open side flaps to the side
- Open the bottom flap toward the body
- Touching only the 1-inch border and keeping items above waist level is correct.
Question 6:
What am I? I’m highly contagious, spread through tiny airborne droplet nuclei and direct contact with skin lesions. My lesions start as red bumps, progress to fluid-filled vesicles, and eventually crust over. Patients must be on airborne and contact precautions in a negative air pressure room. Preventable by a childhood vaccine at 12–15 months and 4–6 years.
A. Measles
B. Rubella
C. Varicella
D. Smallpox
Answer:
C. Varicella. The key identifiers are the lesion stages and the need for airborne + contact precautions. Measles and rubella differ in lesion appearance and transmission. Smallpox is eradicated and not part of the routine vaccine schedule.
Question 7:
A nurse is preparing to enter a patient’s room. Number the correct order for donning the following PPE: gloves, surgical mask, goggles, and gown.
Answer:
- Gown
- Surgical mask
- Goggles
- Gloves
Follow the general donning sequence to maintain sterile technique and ensure full protection before patient contact.
Question 8:
Which patients should the nurse identify as high risk for falls? (Select all that apply.)
A. 40-year-old receiving diazepam
B. 25-year-old post-op from a left leg fracture receiving morphine PRN
C. 42-year-old admitted with a kidney infection receiving oral antibiotics
D. 72-year-old admitted with heart failure receiving IV furosemide
Answer:
A, B, D
A: Diazepam is a sedative, increasing fall risk.
B: Postoperative mobility limitations plus morphine use increase fall risk.
D: Older age, heart failure, and IV furosemide can cause orthostatic hypotension, leading to falls.
C: Age and oral antibiotics alone do not significantly increase fall risk.
Question 9:
An 85-year-old patient with dementia is high fall risk. Which intervention should not be implemented?
A. Place non-skid socks on the patient’s feet
B. Raise all four side rails on the bed
C. Turn on the bed alarm
D. Keep the bed in the lowest position with brakes locked
Answer:
B. Raise all four side rails. Raising all side rails is considered a restraint and can be dangerous for confused patients who may try to climb over them. The other interventions are safe and effective for fall prevention.
Question 10:
After administering an intramuscular injection, a nurse accidentally experiences a needle stick injury. What is the first action the nurse should take?
A. Cover the site with sterile gauze
B. Check the patient’s history of bloodborne infections
C. Report the incident to occupational health
D. Wash the site with soap and water
Answer:
D. Wash the site with soap and water. Immediate washing helps reduce the risk of infection. Afterwards, cover the site, report the incident to occupational health, and follow facility protocols for testing and prophylaxis.
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