Deck 23: Asepsis and Infection Control

Question 1

A nurse is caring for an adolescent who is diagnosed with mononucleosis, commonly called "the kissing disease." The nurse explains that the organisms causing this disease were transmitted by:

A) direct contact.
B) indirect contact.
C) airborne route.
D) vectors.

Answer 1

direct contact.

Question 2

Which of the following is an example of the body's defense against infection?

A) Racial characteristics
B) Body shape and size
C) Immune response
D) Level of susceptibility

Answer 2

Immune response

Question 3

Which of the following questions asked by the nurse when taking a client's health history would collect data about infection control?

A) Tell me what you eat in each 24-hour period.
B) Do you sleep well and wake up feeling healthy?
C) What were the causes of death for your family members?
D) When did you complete your immunizations?

Answer 3

When did you complete your immunizations?

Question 4

A nurse caring for a client who has gas gangrene knows that this infection originated in which of the following reservoirs?

A) Other people
B) Food
C) Soil
D) Animals

Question 5

A nurse is educating a rural community group on how to avoid contracting West Nile virus by using approved insect repellant and wearing proper coverings when outdoors. By what means is the pathogen involved in West Nile virus transmitted?

A) Direct contact
B) Indirect contact
C) Airborne route
D) Vectors

Question 6

A nursing home recently has had a significant number of nosocomial infections. Which of the following measures might be instituted to decrease this trend?

A) Mandating antibiotics for all nursing home residents
B) Have written, infection-prevention practices for all employees
C) Requiring all employees to have monthly screenings for skin flora
D) Restricting visitors and community activities for residents

Question 7

A man on an airplane is sitting by a woman who is coughing and sneezing. If she has an infection, what is the most likely means of transmission from the woman to the man?

A) Direct contact
B) Indirect contact
C) Vectors
D) Airborne route

Question 8

A nurse has seen several clients at a community health center. Which of the clients would be most at risk for developing an infection?

A) An older adult with several chronic illnesses
B) An infant who has just received first immunizations
C) An adolescent who had a basketball physical
D) A middle-aged adult with joint pain and stiffness

Question 9

What are the recommended cleansing agents for hand hygiene in any setting when the risk of infection is high?

A) Liquid or bar hand soap
B) Cold water
C) Hot water
D) Antimicrobial products

Question 10

A woman tests positive for the human immunodeficiency virus antibody but has no symptoms. She is considered a carrier. What component of the infection cycle does the woman illustrate?

A) A reservoir
B) An infectious agent
C) A portal of exit
D) A portal of entry

Question 11

A female client is on isolation because she acquired a methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) infection after hospitalization for hip replacement surgery. What name is given to this type of infection?

A) Nosocomial
B) Viral
C) Iatrogenic
D) Antimicrobial

Question 12

The following procedures have been ordered and implemented for a hospitalized client. Which procedure carries the greatest risk for a nosocomial infection?

A) Enema
B) Intramuscular injections
C) Heat lamp
D) Urinary catheterization

Question 13

A nurse is educating adolescents on how to prevent infections. What statement by one of the adolescents indicates that more education is needed?

A) "I will wash my hands before and after going to the bathroom."
B) "I don't wear a condom when I have sex, but I know my partners."
C) "I always eat fruits and vegetables, and I sleep eight hours a night."
D) "When I have an infection, I rest and take my medications."

Question 14

A client comes to the emergency department with major burns over 40% of his body. Although all of the following are true, which one would provide the rationale for a nursing diagnosis of Risk for Infection?

A) Stress may adversely affect normal defense mechanisms.
B) White blood cells provide resistance to certain pathogens.
C) Intact skin and mucous membranes protect against microbial invasion.
D) Age, race, sex, and hereditary factors influence susceptibility to infection.

Question 15

The nurse is aware that an antiviral medication is most effective when given during which phase of the infectious process?

A) Prodromal stage
B) Incubation period
C) Full stage of illness
D) Convalescent period

Question 16

A client with an upper respiratory infection (common cold) tells the nurse, "I am so angry with the nurse practitioner because he would not give me any antibiotics." What would be the most accurate response by the nurse?

A) "Antibiotics have no effect on viruses."
B) "Let me talk to him and see what we can do."
C) "Why do you think you need an antibiotic?"
D) "I know what you mean; you need an antibiotic."

Question 17

A college-aged student has influenza. At what stage of the infection is the student most infectious?

A) Incubation period
B) Prodromal stage
C) Full stage of illness
D) Convalescent period

Question 18

A client who has had abdominal surgery develops an infection in the wound while still hospitalized. Which of the following agents is most likely the cause of the infection?

A) Virus
B) Bacteria
C) Fungi
D) Spores

Question 19

Which of the following most accurately defines an infection?

A) An illness resulting from living in an unclean environment
B) The result of lack of knowledge about food preparation
C) A disease resulting from pathogens in or on the body
D) An acute or chronic illness resulting from traumatic injury

Question 20

Of all possible nursing interventions to break the chain of infection, which is the most effective?

A) Administering medications
B) Providing good skin care
C) Practicing hand hygiene
D) Wearing gloves at all times

Question 21

An experienced nurse is teaching a student nurse the proper use of hand hygiene. Which of the following is an accurate guideline that should be discussed?

A) The use of gloves eliminates the need for hand hygiene.
B) The use of hand hygiene eliminates the need for gloves.
C) Hand hygiene must be performed after contact with inanimate objects near the client.
D) Hand lotions should not be used after hand hygiene.

Question 22

What is the minimal amount of time that a nurse should scrub hands that are not visibly soiled for effective hand hygiene?

A) 20 seconds
B) 30 seconds
C) 1 minute
D) 5 minutes

Question 23

A nurse is caring for a client with a serious bacterial infection. The client is dehydrated. Knowledge of the physical effects of the infection would support which of the following nursing diagnoses?

A) High Risk for Infection
B) Excess Fluid Volume
C) Risk for Imbalanced Body Temperature
D) Risk for Latex Allergy Response

Question 24

Which of the following are characteristics of the stage of infection known as full stage of illness? Select all that apply.

A) It is the interval between the pathogen's invasion of the body and the appearance of symptoms of infection.
B) Specific signs and symptoms are present.
C) The organisms are growing and multiplying.
D) The signs and symptoms disappear, and the person returns to a healthy state.
E) Early signs and symptoms of disease are present, but these are often vague and nonspecific.

Question 25

What are the general nursing care guidelines that the nurse should follow when caring for clients in a health care facility?

A) Avoid physical contact with the infected client.
B) Avoid jewelry with prongs or protruding stones.
C) Isolate the client and keep the room door closed.
D) Shake linens properly when changing the beds.

Question 26

Which of the following statements about glove use and hand hygiene is true?

A) Artificial fingernails should not be worn by staff involved in direct client care.
B) Nonsterile gloves can be decontaminated with alcohol-based hand rub, but must be changed between clients.
C) Use of alcohol-based hand rubs is appropriate after using the restroom.
D) The use of sterile gloves reduces the need for hand hygiene.

Question 27

A nurse is performing a sterile dressing change. If new sterile items or supplies are needed, how can they be added to the sterile field?

A) With sterile forceps or hands wearing sterile gloves
B) By carefully handling them with clean hands
C) With clean forceps that touch only the outermost part of the item
D) By clean hands wearing clean latex gloves

Question 28

A student nurse is performing a urinary catheterization for the first time and inadvertently contaminates the catheter by touching the bed linens. What should the nurse do to maintain surgical asepsis for this procedure?

A) Nothing, because the client is on antibiotics.
B) Complete the procedure and then report what happened.
C) Apologize to the client and complete the procedure.
D) Gather new sterile supplies and start over.

Question 29

What is the correct rationale for using body substance precautions?

A) The risk of transmitting HIV in sputum and urine is nonexistent.
B) Disease-specific isolation procedures are adequate protection.
C) Only actively infected clients are considered contagious.
D) All body substances are considered potentially infectious.

Question 30

The latest CDC guidelines designate standard precautions for all substances except which of the following?

A) Urine
B) Blood
C) Sweat
D) Vomitus

Question 31

Which statement is true of health care personnel and good hand hygiene?

A) Hand hygiene is carefully followed.
B) Compliance is difficult to achieve.
C) Only nurses need to practice hand hygiene.
D) Wearing gloves reduces the need for hand hygiene.

Question 32

A nurse is changing the bed linen of a client admitted to the health care facility. Which of the following isolation precautions should the nurse follow?

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

Question 33

A nurse has completed morning care for a client. There is no visible soiling on her hands. What type of technique is recommended by the CDC for hand hygiene?

A) Do not wash hands, apply clean gloves.
B) Wash hands with soap and water.
C) Clean hands with an alcohol-based handrub.
D) Wash hands with soap and water, follow with handrub.

Question 34

A nurse is positioning a sterile drape to extend the working area when performing a urinary catheterization. Which of the following is an appropriate technique for this procedure?

A) Use sterile gloves to handle the entire drape surface.
B) Fold the lower edges of the drape over the sterile-gloved hands.
C) Touch only the outer two inches of the drape when not wearing sterile gloves.
D) When reaching over the drape do not allow clothing to touch the drape.

Question 35

A nurse is required to clean the open wounds of a client who has been involved in an automobile accident. What intervention would the nurse need to perform when cleaning open wounds to protect himself from infection?

A) Wash hands with alcohol-based hand wash.
B) Wear a pair of sterile latex gloves.
C) Use sterilizing acid to clean the injury.
D) Use sterile solutions such as normal saline.