Deck 8: Nursing Care of Patients With Infections

Question 1

Which data collection finding should the nurse expect in a patient who has a systemic infection?

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

Answer 1

General malaise

Question 2

Which of these modes of transmission, if stated by a patient, indicates to the nurse correct understanding of the transmission of Rocky Mountain spotted fever?

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

Answer 2

Vector-borne

Question 3

In obtaining a health history from a patient who has a respiratory system infection, which of these findings would be most significant?

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

Answer 3

Wheezing

Question 4

The nurse should recommend including in the plan of care for a patient who has mononucleosis which of these measures to promote recovery?

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

Question 5

What action should the nurse take before entering the room of a patient with tuberculosis (TB)?

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

Question 6

Which of these symptoms, if stated by a patient, indicates to the nurse correct understanding of manifestations of a symptom of a urinary tract infection?

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

Question 7

What does the nurse understand is the purpose of encouraging fluids for a patient who has influenza?

A)To decrease metabolism
B)To increase excretion of toxins
C)To dilute bacterial serum concentration
D)To dilute bacterial urinary concentration

Question 8

There are limited amounts of influenza vaccine currently available in the clinic. Which of the following individuals would have 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 9

Which of these symptoms, if stated by a patient, indicates to the nurse correct understanding of manifestations of a gastrointestinal (GI) tract infection?

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

Question 10

Which intervention should the nurse explain to a nursing assistant is the most important means of preventing the spread of infection?

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

Question 11

When the nurse is 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)Document the wound's appearance.
D)Give the patient something to eat.

Question 12

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

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

Question 13

A patient develops a nosocomial surgical wound infection. Which organism does the nurse recognize as being most likely the cause of the nosocomial infection?

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

Question 14

During data collection, a surgical patient's great toe demonstrates warmth, redness, swelling, and minimal drainage. The nurse would recognize these symptoms as indicative of which condition?

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

Question 15

The nurse is providing care to a patient with a fractured femur who is in traction. Which of the following nursing interventions 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 16

The nurse is discharging a patient who has been treated for conjunctivitis. Which of the following statements, if made by the patient, indicates that teaching was effective?

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

Question 17

For which of these nursing actions must 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

Question 18

Which of these is most important for the nurse to wear during patient care when the possibility of handling body secretions exists?

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

Question 19

What nursing action would be most beneficial in reducing the susceptibility of a hospitalized patient with a healthy immune system to infectious disease?

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

Question 20

Which of these items should the nurse consider as being surgically aseptic?

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

Question 21

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

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

Question 22

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

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

Question 23

During data collection for a patient who has a surgical incision, which finding(s) may indicate a local infection? (Select all that apply.?

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

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 distance(s) 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

Which of the following diseases would the nurse recognize as being caused by a virus? (Select all that apply.?

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

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

Question 27

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

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

Question 28

During data collection on a postoperative patient, which finding(s) are indicative of sepsis? (Select all that apply.?

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

Question 29

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

Question 30

The nurse observes a patient being transported through the hall wearing a mask. The nurse recognizes the patient would have a need to wear a mask with which of the following medical diagnoses?

A)Cellulitis
B)Clostridium difficile
C)Diphtheria
D)Measles
Multiple Response
Identify one or more choices that best complete the statement or answer the question.

Question 31

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

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

Question 32

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

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

Question 33

When the possibility of splattering of body secretions exists, which of these items is most essential for the nurse to wear during patient care?

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

Question 34

A patient is being discharged from the hospital with a prescription for erythromycin. The nurse is reinforcing teaching and should include which of the following about this medication? (Select all that apply.?

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

Question 35

The nurse is providing care for a patient with a known allergy to sulfamethaxazole (Gantanol). Which of the following medications does the nurse understand should also be avoided? (Select all that apply.?

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

Question 36

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

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