Safety and Infection Control Practice Questions
Master Safety and Infection Control for the NCLEX-RN exam with comprehensive practice questions, detailed explanations, and proven study strategies.
2,500+
Practice Questions
94%
Pass Rate
235K+
Students Passed
12%
of Exam
What You'll Learn
Safety and Infection Control is a critical topic on the NCLEX-RN exam, as it covers the nurse's role in maintaining a safe, sterile environment for patients and healthcare workers. This includes understanding infection prevention and control measures, proper use of personal protective equipment (PPE), safe medication administration, and managing environmental and equipment safety hazards. Mastering this content is essential for providing high-quality, evidence-based nursing care and ensuring positive patient outcomes.
Key Concepts
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 infection prevention practices used for patients with known or suspected infections. These include contact, droplet, and airborne precautions, and are used in addition to standard precautions.
Aseptic Technique
A set of practices and procedures performed to maintain sterility when providing care. This includes proper hand hygiene, use of sterile gloves and equipment, and following specific steps to prevent the introduction of microorganisms.
Disinfection and Sterilization
The process of killing or removing microorganisms from inanimate objects. Disinfection reduces the number of microorganisms, while sterilization completely eliminates all microorganisms, including spores.
Sharps Safety
Practices to prevent needle-stick injuries and exposure to bloodborne pathogens, including the proper use, handling, and disposal of sharps (needles, scalpels, etc.).
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Failing to properly perform hand hygiene before and after patient care, a critical step in infection prevention.
- Incorrect selection or application of personal protective equipment (PPE) based on the type of precautions required.
- Improper handling and disposal of sharps, leading to potential needle-stick injuries.
- Inadequate disinfection or sterilization of patient care equipment, risking the spread of infections.
- Lack of awareness of the differences between standard and transmission-based precautions, and when each should be applied.
Sample Safety and 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 Safety and Infection Control
Familiarize yourself with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines for infection prevention and control, as these form the basis for many NCLEX-RN questions.
Practice donning and doffing personal protective equipment (PPE) correctly, and be able to explain the rationale for each step.
Understand the differences between disinfection and sterilization, and the appropriate methods for each based on the type of equipment.
Review case studies and scenarios that highlight the nurse's role in maintaining a safe, sterile environment and preventing the spread of infections.
Regularly test your knowledge with practice questions that cover a wide range of safety and infection control topics.
Ready to Start?
Get instant access to all Safety and Infection Control practice questions with detailed explanations.
Start Free TrialNo credit card required
Related NCLEX-RN Topics
NCLEX-RN Question Types
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Safety and Infection Control questions are on the NCLEX-RN?
Safety and Infection Control makes up approximately 12% of the NCLEX-RN 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-RN?
Yes! Our Safety and 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.
Master Safety and Infection Control Today
Join thousands of students who passed the NCLEX-RN with Upsero
Start Free Trial