Deck 8: Nursing Care of Patients With Infections

Question 1

The nurse is reviewing patient care needs with a nursing assistant.Which intervention should the nurse explain as being the most important means of preventing the spread of infection?

A) Gloving
B) Gowning
C) Hand washing
D) Wearing a mask

Answer 1

Hand washing

Question 2

The nurse is preparing to give a newly prescribed antibiotic to a patient with an infected surgical incision.Which action is essential for the nurse to do before giving the antibiotic?

A) Perform ordered cultures.
B) Check the patient's temperature.
C) Give the patient something to eat.
D) Document the wound's appearance.

Answer 2

Perform ordered cultures.

Question 3

The nurse is preparing to care for a patient.For which action should the nurse use surgical asepsis to prevent infection?

A) Urinary catheter insertion
B) Taking a rectal temperature
C) Reinforcement of dressings
D) Irrigating a nasogastric tube

Answer 3

Urinary catheter insertion

Question 4

During data collection,a patient is experiencing warmth,redness,swelling,and minimal drainage of the right great toe.Which health problem should the nurse recognize is occurring with the patient?

A) Local infection
B) Systemic infection
C) Generalized infection
D) Bacterial colonization

Question 5

The nurse reviews the method of transmission of Rocky Mountain spotted fever with a patient being treated for the disease.On which mode of transmission for the disease should the nurse focus with the patient?

A) Droplet
B) Airborne
C) Vector-borne
D) Vehicle-borne

Question 6

The nurse is preparing to provide patient care.Which item is the most important for the nurse to wear if the possibility of handling body secretions exists?

A) Mask
B) Gown
C) Gloves
D) Goggles

Question 7

There are limited amounts of influenza vaccine currently available in the clinic.Which individual should the nurse identify as having the highest priority to receive vaccination at this time?

A) A 15-year-old who plays ice hockey
B) A 26-year-old with three young children
C) A 49-year-old who works in food services
D) An 88-year-old who lives in an apartment for senior citizens

Question 8

The nurse is caring for a patient with tuberculosis (TB).What action should the nurse take before entering this patient's room?

A) Wear a surgical mask with elastic straps.
B) Wear a clear plastic shield over the face.
C) Wear protective plastic goggles over the eyes.
D) Wear a fitted high-efficiency particulate air respirator.

Question 9

The nurse is reinforcing teaching provided to a patient about gastrointestinal infections.Which symptom should the patient state which indicates that teaching has been effective?

A) Vomiting
B) Flank pain
C) Constipation
D) Cloudy urine

Question 10

The nurse wants to ensure that a hospitalized patient with a healthy immune system does not contract an infectious disease.What nursing action should the nurse identify to reduce this patient's susceptibility to an infection?

A) Planning adequate nutrition
B) Daily bathing with soap and water
C) Assessing vital signs every 4 hours
D) Admitting the patient to a private room

Question 11

The nurse is assisting with the reorganization of the clean utility room.Which item should the nurse consider as being surgically aseptic?

A) An unsealed package in a cupboard
B) Instruments on a sterile field that is moist
C) Sterile items untouched by nonsterile items
D) Sterile pack opened out of sight line of the nurse

Question 12

The nurse is obtaining a health history from a patient who has a respiratory system infection.Which finding should the nurse identify as being the most significant?

A) Flank pain
B) Wheezing
C) Cramping
D) Anorexia

Question 13

The nurse is collecting data from a patient with a systemic infection.Which finding should the nurse expect in this patient?

A) Warm skin
B) Skin redness
C) General malaise
D) Purulent drainage

Question 14

The nurse is participating in planning care for a patient with mononucleosis.Which action should the nurse recommend to promote recovery?

A) Exercise
B) Rest periods
C) Full liquid diet
D) Fluid restriction

Question 15

During data collection,the nurse suspects a patient is experiencing a urinary tract infection.Which manifestation did the nurse use to come to this conclusion?

A) Diarrhea
B) Vomiting
C) Voiding frequency
D) Abdominal distention

Question 16

A patient says to the nurse,"what is a culture?" What would be the best response by the nurse?

A) "A culture measures the level of an antibiotic."
B) "A culture identifies an antibiotic's effect on a pathogen."
C) "A culture determines the appropriate medication dosage to be used."
D) "A culture identifies the presence of disease-causing microorganisms."

Question 17

A patient develops a hospital-acquired surgical wound infection.Which organism should the nurse recognize as being the most likely cause of this infection?

A) Shigella
B) Salmonella
C) Campylobacter
D) Staphylococcus aureus

Question 18

The nurse is caring for a patient with influenza.For which reason should the nurse encourage the patient to increase fluids?

A) Decrease metabolism
B) Liquefies pulmonary secretions
C) Dilute bacterial serum concentration
D) Dilute bacterial urinary concentration

Question 19

The nurse is providing care to a patient with a fractured femur who is in traction.Which nursing intervention is the highest priority for the nurse to implement?

A) Increase daily fluid intake.
B) Weigh patient each morning.
C) Teach patient to cough and deep breathe.
D) Teach patient to cover mouth when coughing.

Question 20

The nurse is discharging a patient who has been treated for conjunctivitis.Which patient statement indicates that teaching was effective?

A) "I will have to wear a mask for 2 weeks."
B) "I will not share towels with others in the house."
C) "I will need to have a special air filter running at all times."
D) "I must stay 3 feet away from people when talking to them."

Question 21

The nurse is contributing to a staff education program about infection control.Which information should the nurse recommend including as an example of a portal of exit for a pathogen in the chain of infection?

A) Hair
B) Nails
C) Mucous membranes
D) Central nervous system

Question 22

The nurse is caring for a patient with herpes simplex.Which statement related to disease transmission should the nurse include in the patient's discharge teaching?

A) "Herpes simplex is an airborne disease."
B) "HEPA filtration is necessary with herpes simplex."
C) "Herpes simplex is transmitted through direct transmission."
D) "Vehicle transmission means that particles float through the air."

Question 23

The nurse is contributing to a staff education program about infection control.What should the nurse recommend as examples of diseases that are transmitted by direct contact? (Select all that apply.)

A) Malaria
B) Measles
C) Impetigo
D) Influenza
E) Chickenpox
F) Lyme disease

Question 24

The nurse is caring for a patient who is in droplet precautions.The nurse must wear a mask when providing care within what distances of the patient? (Select all that apply.)

A) 1 foot
B) 2 feet
C) 3 feet
D) 4 feet
E) 5 feet
F) 6 feet

Question 25

A patient is being admitted for treatment of a viral infection.Which diseases should the nurse recognize as being caused by a virus? (Select all that apply.)

A) Measles
B) Shingles
C) Gonorrhea
D) Trichomoniasis
E) Candida albicans
F) Infectious mononucleosis

Question 26

The nurse is caring for a patient with tuberculosis.What airborne precautions should the nurse take while caring for this patient? (Select all that apply.)

A) Private patient room
B) Semiprivate patient room
C) Closed patient room door
D) Individualized respiratory mask
E) One-size-fits-all respiratory mask

Question 27

The school nurse is planning to teach a group of school-age children on cough etiquette.What should the nurse emphasize with these students?

A) Sneeze into hands if a tissue is not available.
B) Place used tissues in back packs or pockets of clothing.
C) Wash hands with soap and water for 20 seconds after blowing the nose.
D) Move 1 foot away from another person when having to sneeze or cough.

Question 28

The nurse observes a patient being transported through the hall wearing a mask.For which medical diagnosis should the nurse suspect the patient is receiving care?

A) Measles
B) Cellulitis
C) Diphtheria
D) Clostridium difficile

Question 29

A patient voids and asks to have the urinal emptied.Which action should the nurse take first?

A) Empty the urinal.
B) Measure the urine.
C) Put on nonsterile gloves.
D) Offer patient hand hygiene.

Question 30

A patient requires care that might cause the splattering of body secretions.Which item should the nurse wear when caring for this patient?

A) Cap
B) Gown
C) Face shield
D) Shoe covers

Question 31

The nurse has contributed to a staff education program about the principles for the first tier of standard precautions.Which statement by a nursing assistant indicates a correct understanding of the teaching?

A) "All patients are presumed infectious."
B) "Isolation is not required for most diseases."
C) "Patients with a known infection are placed in isolation upon admission."
D) "Patients are not considered infectious until confirmed so by the laboratory."

Question 32

The nurse is collecting data from a patient with a surgical incision.Which findings indicate to the nurse that a local infection is present? (Select all that apply.)

A) Fever
B) Redness
C) Swelling
D) Headache
E) Loss of appetite
F) General malaise

Question 33

The nurse suspects that patient is developing sepsis.Which findings did the nurse use to come to this conclusion? (Select all that apply.)

A) Tachycardia
B) Hypotension
C) Hypertension
D) Mental confusion
E) Increased capillary refill
F) Hyperactive bowel sounds

Question 34

A patient is being discharged from the hospital with a prescription for erythromycin.What should the nurse include when teaching about this medication? (Select all that apply.)

A) Avoid sun exposure.
B) Drowsiness may occur.
C) Take pills on an empty stomach.
D) Report vaginal irritation or white patches in the mouth.
E) Take with a full glass of water but not with an acidic juice.
F) Gastric distress may occur, but unless it is severe do not discontinue the medication.

Question 35

A patient is admitted for treatment of an antibody-antigen response.What should the nurse explain to the patient about this response? (Select all that apply.)

A) Engulfs and digests the antigen
B) Initiates destruction of the antigen
C) Neutralizes toxins released by bacteria
D) Promotes antigen clumping with the antibody
E) Prevents the antigen from adhering to host cells

Question 36

The nurse is contributing to a staff education program about infection control.What information from the following list should the nurse recommend including about methods that are effective in destroying bacterial spores?

A) Prolonged drying times
B) Prolonged high temperatures
C) Cleansing with soap and water
D) Brief exposure to room temperatures

Question 37

The nurse is caring for a patient who has influenza.In which type of transmission-based precaution should the patient be placed?

A) Contact
B) Droplet
C) Airborne
D) Respiratory

Question 38

The nurse is providing care for a patient with a known allergy to sulfamethoxazole (Gantanol).Which medications should the nurse question if prescribed for this patient? (Select all that apply.)

A) Ciprofloxacin (Cipro)
B) Amoxicillin (Amoxil)
C) Levofloxacin (Levaquin)
D) Sulfisoxazole (Gantrisin)
E) Doxycycline (Vibramycin)
F) Trimethoprim sulfamethoxazole (Bactrim, Septra)

Question 39

A patient learns that a serum antibody test is positive.What should the nurse explain to the patient about this test result?

A) An active infection is present.
B) It is more accurate than a blood culture.
C) The body has been exposed to an antigen.
D) A specific antibiotic has been identified for the infection.

Question 40

The nurse is caring for a patient who is immunocompromised.Which action should the nurse take to ensure that the patient does not develop a hospital-acquired infection?

A) Restrict oral fluids
B) Apply lotion to dry skin
C) Provide alcohol-based mouthwash
D) Massage back with a skin drying agent

Question 41

The nurse is assisting with the development of an educational program to reduce the incidence of infectious diseases in a community.What topics should the nurse suggest be included in this program? (Select all that apply.)

A) Use of cough etiquette
B) Performance of hand hygiene
C) Safe food handling techniques
D) Use of safety equipment with sports
E) Importance of receiving immunizations