Safety and Infection Control Practice Questions
Master Safety and Infection Control for the NCLEX-PN exam with comprehensive practice questions, detailed explanations, and proven study strategies.
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What You'll Learn
Safety and Infection Control is a crucial topic for the NCLEX-PN exam, as it covers the essential knowledge and skills needed to ensure patient safety and prevent the spread of infectious diseases in healthcare settings. Nurses must be well-versed in proper hand hygiene, personal protective equipment (PPE) usage, safe handling of sharps, disinfection and sterilization, and other infection control measures to provide safe and effective patient care. This topic also includes content on disaster preparedness, environmental safety, and workplace safety for healthcare workers. Mastering the concepts in this domain is critical for nursing students to demonstrate their competence in providing safe, high-quality care on the NCLEX-PN exam.
Key Concepts
Hand Hygiene
The most important measure for preventing the transmission of infectious agents in healthcare settings. Includes proper handwashing techniques, use of alcohol-based hand rubs, and indications for hand hygiene.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Specialized clothing or equipment worn by healthcare workers to create a barrier against infectious materials. Includes gloves, gowns, masks, respirators, and eye protection.
Standard Precautions
The minimum infection prevention practices that apply to all patient care, regardless of suspected or confirmed infection status. Includes hand hygiene, use of PPE, safe injection practices, and safe handling of contaminated equipment or surfaces.
Transmission-Based Precautions
Additional precautions taken beyond standard precautions to prevent the spread of infectious agents. Includes contact, droplet, and airborne precautions, depending on the mode of transmission.
Disinfection and Sterilization
The processes used to kill or remove microorganisms from inanimate objects. Includes the proper use of chemical disinfectants, sterilization techniques, and reprocessing of medical equipment.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Failing to properly perform hand hygiene before and after patient contact, or not following the recommended techniques.
- Incorrectly selecting or using the appropriate PPE for a given situation, such as not wearing a mask or respirator when indicated.
- Not following standard precautions consistently, such as not using gloves when handling blood or body fluids.
- Improperly cleaning and disinfecting patient care equipment, leading to the potential spread of infectious agents.
- Lacking knowledge of proper sharps handling and disposal, increasing the risk of needlestick injuries.
Sample Safety and Infection Control Questions
Question 1
A pathogen can be defined as:
Any organism capable of producing illness
(Correct)A virus or bacteria that exists in a latent form
A virus or bacteria that is beneficial to humans
A parasite that invades the gastrointestinal tract of humans and causes illness
Explanation:
Correct answer: Any organism capable of producing illness Pathogens are any organism, generally microscopic, with the capacity to cause disease. Pathogens are most commonly spread through the hands. Consistent hand hygiene using effective hand washing is the most effective method for preventing the ...
Question 2
When providing care to a patient with active tuberculosis, it is necessary to wear a:
Respirator mask
(Correct)Disposable gown
Surgical mask
"Space" suit
Explanation:
Correct answer: Respirator mask To prevent the droplet spread of tuberculosis, it's essential for healthcare staff to wear a properly fitted respirator mask. Standard surgical masks do not create a tight enough seal to effectively prevent the transmission of droplets, making them unsuitable for cari...
Question 3
As a home health care nurse, you are completing an environmental safety survey at a patient's residence. What safety risk should be addressed and fixed right away?
The unknown date of battery changes in the smoke alarms
(Correct)The use of GFCIs in the kitchen and the bathrooms
The client’s visual and auditory alterations and deficits
The absence of any carbon monoxide alarms in the home
Explanation:
Correct answer: The unknown date of battery changes in the smoke alarms It is recommended that batteries in smoke alarms should be replaced at least every six months. If the last change date is unknown, it is essential not to assume that the batteries are still in working order. Therefore, to mitiga...
Study Tips for Safety and Infection Control
Memorize the key steps and indications for proper hand hygiene, and practice the handwashing technique until it becomes second nature.
Familiarize yourself with the different types of PPE and their appropriate use in various clinical scenarios.
Understand the principles of standard and transmission-based precautions, and how to implement them in patient care settings.
Learn the differences between cleaning, disinfection, and sterilization, and the appropriate methods for each process.
Practice applying your knowledge of infection control measures to realistic patient care scenarios, such as through case studies or simulations.
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Related NCLEX-PN Topics
NCLEX-PN Question Types
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Safety and Infection Control questions are on the NCLEX-PN?
Safety and Infection Control makes up approximately 12% of the NCLEX-PN exam. Upsero includes hundreds of practice questions covering all aspects of this topic.
How do I study for Safety and Infection Control?
Start with understanding the key concepts, then practice with realistic exam questions. Upsero's ReadyScore tracks your mastery of Safety and Infection Control so you know when you're ready for the real exam.
Are the practice questions similar to the real NCLEX-PN?
Yes! Our Safety and Infection Control questions are designed to match the exact format, difficulty, and style of the actual NCLEX-PN exam. Many students say our questions are even harder than the real exam.
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