Infection Control Practice Questions
Master Infection Control for the NCLEX-RN exam with comprehensive practice questions, detailed explanations, and proven study strategies.
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What You'll Learn
Infection Control is a critical topic on the NCLEX-RN exam, as nurses play a crucial role in preventing and controlling the spread of infections in healthcare settings. This section covers fundamental concepts related to infection prevention, transmission-based precautions, proper use of personal protective equipment (PPE), and safe handling of contaminated materials. Mastering these principles is essential for providing safe, high-quality patient care and ensuring the well-being of both patients and healthcare workers.
Key Concepts
Chain of Infection
The six elements required for an infection to occur: infectious agent, reservoir, portal of exit, mode of transmission, portal of entry, and susceptible host.
Standard Precautions
The minimum infection prevention practices that apply to all patient care, regardless of suspected or confirmed infection status. These include hand hygiene, use of personal protective equipment (PPE), safe injection practices, and safe handling of potentially contaminated equipment or surfaces.
Transmission-Based Precautions
Additional precautions used for patients with known or suspected infections to prevent the spread of pathogens. The three main types are contact, droplet, and airborne precautions.
Hand Hygiene
The single most important practice for reducing the transmission of infectious agents. It includes handwashing with soap and water or using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Specialized clothing or equipment worn to create a barrier between the wearer and infectious agents. Examples include gloves, gowns, masks, and goggles.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Failing to properly clean hands before and after patient contact
- Improper donning or doffing of personal protective equipment (PPE)
- Inadequate disinfection of patient care equipment
- Lack of adherence to transmission-based precautions for known or suspected infections
- Improper disposal of contaminated waste
Sample Infection Control Questions
Question 1
A nurse applied restraints to prevent a patient from dislodging an IV used to administer intravenous antibiotics. What alternative action should the nurse have considered first?
Call the provider to order a PO antibiotic.
(Correct)Administer a sedative that will decrease the patient's movements.
Stand guard over the patient until the antibiotic infusion is completed.
Ask a family member to monitor the patient's behavior.
Explanation:
Correct answer: Call the provider to order a PO antibiotic. Before resorting to restraints, the nurse should explore alternative solutions like requesting a po antibiotic instead of intravenous antibiotics. Restraints are a last resort. Administer a sedative to limit movement is considered a form of...
Question 2
You're providing care for a child who is experiencing epiglottitis. What equipment is most critical to have available at the immediate location?
Cricothyrotomy kit
(Correct)Oxygen saturation monitoring device
System for chest tube insertion and drainage
Equipment to monitor blood pressure
Explanation:
Correct answer: Cricothyrotomy kit. The priority is airway management. Given potentially rapid deterioration, airway equipment, inclusive of that needed for cricothyrotomy, must be at the bedside. Placement of a chest tube is not indicated for epiglottitis.
Question 3
A nurse is performing a med pass at 4:00 p.m. and is about to administer a narcotic to a patient in room 42B for pain management. What step is crucial to perform immediately before administering the medication?
Verify that the patient's name and date of birth on the medication order matches the patient's wristband
(Correct)Verify the room number and the patient's name against what is stated on the medication order
Have the patient verify the medication that he is to receive
Record the date and time that the medication was administered in the patient's medical record
Explanation:
Correct answer: Verify that the patient's name and date of birth on the medication order matches the patient's wristband. Prior to the med pass to administer the narcotic, the nurse must verify the patient's identity by matching the patient's name and date of birth on the medication order to the pat...
Study Tips for Infection Control
Familiarize yourself with the key elements of the chain of infection and how to break the chain through infection control practices.
Understand the differences between standard precautions and transmission-based precautions, and when each type should be used.
Practice proper hand hygiene techniques, including the use of alcohol-based hand sanitizers and handwashing with soap and water.
Become proficient in the correct donning and doffing of personal protective equipment (PPE) for various scenarios.
Review guidelines for the safe handling and disposal of contaminated materials, such as sharps, linens, and waste.
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Related NCLEX-RN Topics
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many Infection Control questions are on the NCLEX-RN?
Infection Control is an important component of the NCLEX-RN exam. Upsero includes hundreds of practice questions covering all aspects of this topic.
How do I study for Infection Control?
Start with understanding the key concepts, then practice with realistic exam questions. Upsero's ReadyScore tracks your mastery of Infection Control so you know when you're ready for the real exam.
Are the practice questions similar to the real NCLEX-RN?
Yes! Our Infection Control questions are designed to match the exact format, difficulty, and style of the actual NCLEX-RN exam. Many students say our questions are even harder than the real exam.
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