NUR242 MEDICAL SURGICAL NURSING 3
CERTIFICATION TEST 2026 COMPREHENSIVE
STUDY GUIDE
◉ What are 6 important things to remember when preparing a
sterile field? Answer: - flat work surface that is 12-18 in from any
walls or potentially contaminating objects (also close to the patient)
- check packaging to ensure no tears/holes/damage
- peel back the first flap away from the nurse's body
- peel the sides back one at a time
- peel the flap closest to the nurse's body
- the outer inch is contaminated so you want to add to the middle of
the field
◉ sterilization Answer: involves cleaning instruments so that all
micro-organisms, including bacterial spores, are eradicated
can be achieved with steam and then dry heat, ethylene oxide gas, or
with chemicals
equipment must be cleaned before sterilization
,◉ standard precautions Answer: infection prevention practices
applied to all patients (whether or not they are known to have an
infection)
used to protect self and others from blood, body fluids, secretions,
excretions, nonintact skin, and mucous membranes
PPE can include: masks, gloves, face shield, gowns, glasses
◉ contact precautions Answer: at minimum: gown and gloves
◉ What infections require contact precautions? (5) Answer: - VRE
- C diff
- noroviruses
- any intestinal tract pathogen
- RSV
◉ droplet precautions Answer: minimum: mask
patient should wear a mask when leaving their room
◉ What infectious agents require droplet precautions? (5) Answer: -
influenza virus
,- adenovirus
- covid
- rhinovirus (common cold)
- mycoplasma pneumoniae
◉ airborne precautions Answer: patient should be in a negative
pressure room
at minimum: N95 mask
◉ protective isolation Answer: used during approximately the first
100 days after a transplant
specific engineering and hospital designs that decrease the risk of
environmental fungi to the client
no plants
◉ health care-associated infections (HAIs) Answer: infections that
are acquired in a health care facility
◉ What are the 4 major HAIs? Answer: - central line-associated
bloodstream infections (CLABSIs)
, - catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs)
- surgical site infections (SSIs)
- ventilator-assisted pneumonias (VAPs)
◉ infection control bundles Answer: guidelines for practice that are
bundled together to help prevent HAIs
◉ multidrug-resistant infections Answer: bacteria that are resistant
to one or more classes of existing antimicrobials
◉ What 3 ways to decrease the chance of transmitting MDROs?
Answer: - proper handwashing
- wearing gloves
- using contact precautions
◉ What are 3 factors increasing the risk of infection? Answer: -
being in the healthcare environment
- having a medical device
- proximity to other patients
◉ What should a nurse wear when administering medications to a
client on contact precautions? Answer: gloves and a gown
CERTIFICATION TEST 2026 COMPREHENSIVE
STUDY GUIDE
◉ What are 6 important things to remember when preparing a
sterile field? Answer: - flat work surface that is 12-18 in from any
walls or potentially contaminating objects (also close to the patient)
- check packaging to ensure no tears/holes/damage
- peel back the first flap away from the nurse's body
- peel the sides back one at a time
- peel the flap closest to the nurse's body
- the outer inch is contaminated so you want to add to the middle of
the field
◉ sterilization Answer: involves cleaning instruments so that all
micro-organisms, including bacterial spores, are eradicated
can be achieved with steam and then dry heat, ethylene oxide gas, or
with chemicals
equipment must be cleaned before sterilization
,◉ standard precautions Answer: infection prevention practices
applied to all patients (whether or not they are known to have an
infection)
used to protect self and others from blood, body fluids, secretions,
excretions, nonintact skin, and mucous membranes
PPE can include: masks, gloves, face shield, gowns, glasses
◉ contact precautions Answer: at minimum: gown and gloves
◉ What infections require contact precautions? (5) Answer: - VRE
- C diff
- noroviruses
- any intestinal tract pathogen
- RSV
◉ droplet precautions Answer: minimum: mask
patient should wear a mask when leaving their room
◉ What infectious agents require droplet precautions? (5) Answer: -
influenza virus
,- adenovirus
- covid
- rhinovirus (common cold)
- mycoplasma pneumoniae
◉ airborne precautions Answer: patient should be in a negative
pressure room
at minimum: N95 mask
◉ protective isolation Answer: used during approximately the first
100 days after a transplant
specific engineering and hospital designs that decrease the risk of
environmental fungi to the client
no plants
◉ health care-associated infections (HAIs) Answer: infections that
are acquired in a health care facility
◉ What are the 4 major HAIs? Answer: - central line-associated
bloodstream infections (CLABSIs)
, - catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs)
- surgical site infections (SSIs)
- ventilator-assisted pneumonias (VAPs)
◉ infection control bundles Answer: guidelines for practice that are
bundled together to help prevent HAIs
◉ multidrug-resistant infections Answer: bacteria that are resistant
to one or more classes of existing antimicrobials
◉ What 3 ways to decrease the chance of transmitting MDROs?
Answer: - proper handwashing
- wearing gloves
- using contact precautions
◉ What are 3 factors increasing the risk of infection? Answer: -
being in the healthcare environment
- having a medical device
- proximity to other patients
◉ What should a nurse wear when administering medications to a
client on contact precautions? Answer: gloves and a gown
