Deck 14: Infectious Process and Prophylaxis

Question 1

A patient diagnosed with active tuberculosis is being admitted to the hospital. The nurse should prepare for this patient to be placed in which type of isolation?

A) Airborne precautions
B) Standard precautions
C) Droplet precautions
D) Contact precautions

Answer 1

Airborne precautions

Question 2

The nurse is caring for a patient in droplet precautions. What protective gear should the nurse wear when providing care to this patient?

A) Head covering and gown
B) Shoe covering and gown
C) Gloves only
D) Mask and eye protection or face shield

Answer 2

Mask and eye protection or face shield

Question 3

A patient with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is no longer responding to the medication vancomycin (Vancocin). The nurse realizes that this patient is most likely demonstrating which condition?

A) A superinfection
B) VISA
C) VRE
D) PRSP

Answer 3

VISA

Question 4

A patient with a compromised immune system is admitted to the hospital with an infection. What will most likely be done to help this patient?

A) Discharge the patient early to recover from the infection at home.
B) Place the patient in a semiprivate room.
C) Use isolation techniques to protect the patient from further infection.
D) Place the patient in respiratory isolation.

Question 5

A patient has been prescribed cefadroxil (Duricef). Patient teaching must include which instructions?.Note: Credit will be given only if all correct choices and no incorrect choices are selected. Select all that apply.

A) Take on an empty stomach.
B) Avoid alcohol.
C) Report any hearing loss.
D) Drink additional water.
E) Complete the prescription.

Question 6

The nurse would be concerned that a patient is exhibiting signs and symptoms of inflammation after assessing which findings in a leg wound?.Note: Credit will be given only if all correct choices and no incorrect choices are selected. Select all that apply.

A) Edema
B) Pain
C) Erythema
D) Coolness of tissues
E) Decreased distal pulses

Question 7

While reviewing the white blood cell count differential for a patient, the nurse notes that the basophil count is elevated. What does this laboratory value indicate to the nurse?

A) The patient may be experiencing an acute hypersensitivity reaction.
B) The patient has a viral gastrointestinal infection.
C) The patient is fighting a bacterial skin infection.
D) The patient is not responding to a parasitic infection.

Question 8

The nurse has completed caring for a patient's indwelling urinary catheter. What should the nurse do after clearing used supplies and removing the gloves?

A) Wash the hands with soap.
B) Document the care provided.
C) Prepare medications for the patient.
D) Discuss with the nursing assistant additional care needs for the patient.

Question 9

The nurse is instructing a patient on ways to prevent the onset of infection. What should be included in these instructions?

A) Wash hands after using disposable tissues for nasal secretions.
B) Reduce animal protein in the diet.
C) Take prescribed antibiotics until symptoms subside.
D) There is no need to limit interactions with people or crowds.

Question 10

A school district is not requiring vaccinations for children who are starting school. The nurse realizes that this action could have which effect?

A) Healthier children
B) A reduction in the number of colds and flu in the school
C) A decrease in school costs
D) An epidemic of an illness that could have been avoided with a vaccination

Question 11

Which finding would indicate that a patient is experiencing a systemic reaction associated with an inflammatory response?

A) Fever
B) Erythema
C) Edema
D) Pain

Question 12

The nurse needs to change a patient's abdominal wound dressing. Which precautions should be implemented?

A) Standard precautions
B) Contact precautions
C) Droplet precautions
D) Airborne precautions

Question 13

A patient wants to know why he developed an infection after being cut on the leg with a piece of wood but his friend who was also cut did not. How should the nurse explain this phenomenon to the patient?

A) "Maybe the wood that cut your friend wasn't dirty and infected."
B) "You must have an autoimmune disorder."
C) "The organism found you more susceptible to infection."
D) "Your friend will get an infection too. It will just occur later."

Question 14

A patient is diagnosed with an antibiotic-resistant infection. What can the nurse do to reduce the spread of this infection?

A) Isolate the supplies used when caring for this patient.
B) Transfer the patient to a semiprivate room.
C) Limit exposure to this patient.
D) Restrict visitors and plan activities to coincide with meal delivery times.

Question 15

A patient who was diagnosed with an infection is prescribed a macrolide antibiotic. What should the nurse instruct the patient about taking this medication?

A) Take the medication on a full stomach.
B) Take the medication with a glass of milk.
C) Take the medication on an empty stomach.
D) Take the medication with a full glass of juice.

Question 16

Linezolid (Zyvox) 600 mg BID, IV has been ordered for a patient. The nurse receives 600 mg/300 mL with direction to give over 120 minutes. An IV line labeled 15 drops per mL is available. The drop rate will be ______ drops/minute.

Question 17

A patient is receiving an aminoglycoside. The nurse would immediately report which findings?.Note: Credit will be given only if all correct choices and no incorrect choices are selected. Select all that apply.

A) A history of allergy to penicillins
B) A weight gain of 5 kg in 2 days
C) Symptoms of vertigo
D) A fluid intake below 2000 mL/day
E) A peak level lower than anticipated

Question 18

The nurse is planning care for a patient at risk for developing an infection. Which intervention is the most important for the nurse to include in this patient's plan of care?

A) Wash hands prior to providing care to the patient.
B) Provide prophylactic antibiotic therapy as prescribed.
C) Wear a mask when caring for the patient.
D) Wear a gown and gloves when changing the patient's linen.

Question 19

The nurse needs to obtain a sputum specimen for culture and sensitivity from a patient. When should the nurse obtain this specimen?

A) Before the first dose of antibiotics is administered
B) Immediately after the first dose of antibiotic is administered
C) 30 minutes after the first dose of antibiotics is administered
D) As the first dose of antibiotics is administered

Question 20

When caring for a patient with an infection, the nurse uses a stethoscope that remains in the patient's room. At which point is the nurse interrupting the chain of infection?

A) The reservoir
B) Portal of exit
C) Mode of transmission
D) Susceptible host

Question 21

A patient tells the nurse that she doesn't wash her hands very much because the skin on her hands is dry and cracked. What instruction should the nurse give this patient?

A) Wash the hands without soap.
B) Wash the hands with hot water.
C) Wash the hands with cold water.
D) Use a hand lotion with high fat or oil content to protect the skin.

Question 22

A patient's assessment findings suggest infection by a rickettsiae organism. The nurse would ask about which history?.Note: Credit will be given only if all correct choices and no incorrect choices are selected. Select all that apply.

A) Tick bite
B) Exposure to a child with roundworms
C) Hyphae exposure
D) Exposure to animals with fleas
E) Exposure to someone with an upper respiratory infection

Question 23

The nurse is caring for four patients in a medical-surgical unit. Which patient should the nurse see first?

A) A patent admitted with pneumonia who is has small amounts of yellow productive sputum
B) A patent admitted with fever of unknown origin whose temperature is currently
C) A patent admitted with an infected wound on the left foot whose WBC is 8,500 mm³
D) A patent admitted with infectious gastroenteritis who has had severe diarrhea for the last 24 hours
99.0˚F

Question 24

The nurse is performing hand hygiene with an alcohol-based product. The nurse should rub the hands together for at least ______ seconds.

Question 25

A patient asks the nurse why the infected area on his arm is so red. How should the nurse respond?

A) "Body fluids are leaking into the area."
B) "White blood cells are trying to kill the bacteria."
C) "The body has increased the blood supply to the area."
D) "The body is walling off the infected area to prevent it from spreading."

Question 26

A patient with an infection of the wrist and forearm is to wear a splint. The nurse identifies which rationale for this intervention?

A) To stop exudate and pus formation
B) To decrease the white blood cell count
C) To support the limb because of loss of function related to the pain and swelling
D) To reduce the redness

Question 27

A patient who changes her own skin lesion dressings tells the nurse that she developed a new skin lesion on another body part. The nurse realizes this patient is most likely describing which mode of transmission?

A) Vector-borne
B) Vehicle
C) Indirect contact
D) Direct contact

Question 28

The nurse would assess that a patient is severely neutropenic if the absolute neutrophil count is less than ______ cells per cubic millimeter.