Question 1

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?

Accepted Answer

Hand hygiene should be performed before and after direct contact with clients, after contact with contaminated items, and after removing gloves. Therefore, hand hygiene must be performed after contact with inanimate objects near the client.

Answer: B
 The use of hand hygiene does not eliminate the need for gloves, as gloves should still be worn when there is the possibility of contact with bodily fluids or contaminated items.

Answers A and D are incorrect. The use of gloves does not eliminate the need for hand hygiene, and hand lotions should be used after hand hygiene to prevent skin dryness and cracking.

Question 2

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

Accepted Answer

The minimal amount of time recommended for scrubbing hands that are not visibly soiled for effective hand hygiene is 20 seconds, according to guidelines from health organizations like the CDC.

Question 3

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?

Accepted Answer

The presence of a serious bacterial infection can lead to fever as the body attempts to fight off the infection, which supports the nursing diagnosis of "Risk for Imbalanced Body Temperature." Fever can increase the body's metabolic rate and fluid loss, contributing to dehydration.

Question 4

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

Accepted Answer

During the full stage of illness, specific signs and symptoms of the infection are present, and the infectious organisms are growing and multiplying within the body. This stage is characterized by the peak of symptoms, and typically occurs after the prodromal stage (early signs and symptoms) has ended. The interval between the pathogen's invasion and the appearance of symptoms is the incubation period, and the recovery stage (signs and symptoms disappear) follows the full stage of illness.

Question 5

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

Accepted Answer

Jewelry with prongs or protruding stones can harbor bacteria and increase the risk of infection transmission. It is important for nurses to follow infection control guidelines, but avoiding physical contact and isolating the client should only be done when necessary for infection control purposes. Shaking linens is not a recommended practice, as it can spread infectious particles. Overall, the general nursing care guidelines include practicing good hand hygiene, following appropriate isolation precautions, using proper body mechanics when moving clients, and providing holistic care that addresses clients' physical, emotional, and spiritual needs.

Question 6

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

Accepted Answer

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that healthcare workers involved in direct patient care should avoid wearing artificial fingernails to prevent the transmission of pathogens to patients. Artificial nails can trap dirt, pathogens, and healthcare products under them, making it difficult to clean and disinfect hands properly.

Question 7

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?

Accepted Answer

New sterile items or supplies should be added to the sterile field with sterile forceps or hands wearing sterile gloves to maintain sterility.

Question 8

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?

Accepted Answer

To maintain surgical asepsis, the nurse should gather new sterile supplies and start over since the catheter has been contaminated. The other options are not appropriate as antibiotics do not negate the need for sterile technique, reporting alone does not address the contamination of the catheter, and completing the procedure with a contaminated catheter increases the risk of infection for the patient.

Question 9

What is the correct rationale for using body substance precautions?

Accepted Answer

Body substance precautions are necessary because all body substances are considered potentially infectious, regardless of whether the client is actively infected with a particular disease. It is important to assume that any body substance could be carrying an infectious agent and take appropriate precautions to prevent transmission.

Question 10

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

Accepted Answer

Standard precautions are designed to reduce the risk of transmission of microorganisms from both recognized and unrecognized sources of infection in hospitals. The CDC guidelines include precautions for handling substances like blood, urine, and vomitus, but sweat is generally not included unless it is visibly contaminated with blood.

Question 11

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

Accepted Answer

Compliance with hand hygiene guidelines among health care personnel is notoriously difficult to achieve consistently. Despite the known importance of hand hygiene in preventing the spread of infections, adherence rates are often lower than desired. This is due to various factors, including time constraints, skin irritation from hand hygiene products, and lack of awareness or education. The other options are incorrect: hand hygiene is not always carefully followed (A), all healthcare personnel (not just nurses) need to practice hand hygiene (C), and wearing gloves does not eliminate the need for hand hygiene (D).

Question 12

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?

Accepted Answer

Standard precautions include practices like hand hygiene and the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) to prevent the spread of infection and are recommended for the care of all patients, regardless of their diagnosis or presumed infection status. Changing bed linen falls under these general practices to prevent the transmission of infectious agents.

Question 13

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?

Accepted Answer

The CDC recommends using an alcohol-based handrub when there is no visible soiling on the hands, as this method is more effective and efficient in killing germs compared to handwashing with soap and water. Wearing gloves is not a substitute for hand hygiene.

Question 14

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?

Accepted Answer

The answer of A nurse is positioning a sterile drape...

Question 15

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?

Accepted Answer

Wearing a pair of sterile latex gloves is essential for the nurse to protect themselves from infection when cleaning open wounds.

Quiz 23: Asepsis and Infection Control