NUR 102 – Basic Nursing Skills Practical Nursing
Skills Study Guide, Clinical Procedures, Patient
Care Techniques, Safety Standards, and
Comprehensive Practice Review
Question 1
A nursing student is preparing to perform hand hygiene before entering a patient's
room. Which of the following is the most effective method for removing
microorganisms when hands are visibly soiled?
A) Using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer for 20 seconds
B) Washing hands with soap and water for 15 seconds
C) Washing hands with soap and water for 40-60 seconds
D) Using a chlorhexidine-based cleanser
Answer: C) Washing hands with soap and water for 40-60 seconds
Rationale: The CDC recommends washing hands with soap and water for 40-60
seconds when hands are visibly soiled. This mechanical action removes dirt and
microorganisms effectively. Alcohol-based hand sanitizers (Option A) are effective
for 20-30 seconds but are not effective when hands are visibly soiled or for C.
difficile. Fifteen seconds (Option B) is insufficient.
Question 2
A nurse is preparing to perform hand hygiene using an alcohol-based hand
sanitizer. Which of the following is the correct duration for rubbing hands together
until they are dry?
A) 5-10 seconds
B) 10-15 seconds
C) 20-30 seconds
D) 40-60 seconds
Answer: C) 20-30 seconds
Rationale: When using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer, the CDC recommends
rubbing hands together for 20-30 seconds until they are completely dry. This
,ensures adequate contact time for the sanitizer to be effective. Five to ten seconds
(Option A) is insufficient. Forty to sixty seconds (Option D) is the recommended
duration for handwashing with soap and water.
Question 3
A nursing student is learning about the chain of infection. Which of the following
represents the correct sequence of the chain of infection?
A) Reservoir, Infectious agent, Portal of exit, Mode of transmission, Portal of
entry, Susceptible host
B) Infectious agent, Reservoir, Portal of exit, Mode of transmission, Portal of
entry, Susceptible host
C) Susceptible host, Portal of entry, Mode of transmission, Portal of exit,
Reservoir, Infectious agent
D) Portal of exit, Mode of transmission, Portal of entry, Susceptible host,
Infectious agent, Reservoir
Answer: B) Infectious agent, Reservoir, Portal of exit, Mode of transmission,
Portal of entry, Susceptible host
Rationale: The chain of infection consists of six components in the correct order:
(1) Infectious agent (pathogen), (2) Reservoir (where the pathogen lives), (3) Portal
of exit (how the pathogen leaves the reservoir), (4) Mode of transmission (how the
pathogen is transmitted), (5) Portal of entry (how the pathogen enters the
susceptible host), and (6) Susceptible host. Breaking any link in the chain prevents
infection.
Question 4
A nurse is caring for a patient with a wound infection caused by methicillin-
resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Which type of precautions should the
nurse implement?
A) Standard precautions
B) Contact precautions
C) Droplet precautions
D) Airborne precautions
Answer: B) Contact precautions
,Rationale: MRSA is transmitted by direct or indirect contact. Contact precautions
require a private room or cohorting, gloves, and gown for all client contact.
Standard precautions alone are insufficient for MRSA. Droplet precautions are for
organisms transmitted via respiratory droplets, and airborne precautions are for
tuberculosis and similar pathogens.
Question 5
A nurse is applying personal protective equipment (PPE) before entering a patient's
room. Which of the following is the correct order for putting on PPE?
A) Gown, mask, gloves
B) Mask, gown, gloves
C) Gloves, gown, mask
D) Gown, gloves, mask
Answer: A) Gown, mask, gloves
Rationale: The correct sequence for donning PPE is: gown first (protects the
uniform), then mask (protects mucous membranes), and gloves last (protects
hands). Removing PPE is the reverse: gloves, mask, gown. This sequence prevents
contamination during application.
Question 6
A nurse is caring for a patient with Clostridium difficile. Which of the following is
the correct method for hand hygiene?
A) Alcohol-based hand sanitizer
B) Soap and water
C) Chlorhexidine wipes
D) Betadine solution
Answer: B) Soap and water
Rationale: C. difficile spores are resistant to alcohol-based hand sanitizers. The
mechanical friction and flushing action of washing with soap and water are
required to remove the spores. This is the only appropriate method for hand
hygiene in patients with C. difficile. Chlorhexidine wipes (Option C) and Betadine
solution (Option D) are not effective for C. difficile.
, Question 7
A nurse is preparing a sterile field. Which of the following actions contaminates
the sterile field?
A) Opening the sterile package with the top flap away from the body
B) Placing sterile items 1 inch from the edge of the field
C) Reaching over the sterile field to adjust an item
D) Using sterile gloves to handle sterile items
Answer: C) Reaching over the sterile field to adjust an item
Rationale: Reaching over a sterile field contaminates it because particles can fall
from the arms and clothing onto the field. Sterile items should be placed at least 1
inch from the edge of the field (Option B). Opening the package with the top flap
away from the body (Option A) is correct. Using sterile gloves (Option D) is
correct.
Question 8
A nurse is preparing to insert an indwelling urinary catheter. Which of the
following is the most important action to prevent infection?
A) Use sterile technique throughout the procedure
B) Use clean technique for the procedure
C) Lubricate the catheter with petroleum jelly
D) Inflate the balloon with 30 mL of sterile water
Answer: A) Use sterile technique throughout the procedure
Rationale: Indwelling urinary catheter insertion requires sterile technique to
prevent urinary tract infections. Water-soluble lubricant should be used, not
petroleum jelly (Option C), which can damage the catheter. The balloon should be
inflated with 10 mL of sterile water for a standard Foley catheter (Option D), not
30 mL.
Question 9
A nurse is caring for a patient on airborne precautions. Which of the following
personal protective equipment is required?
Skills Study Guide, Clinical Procedures, Patient
Care Techniques, Safety Standards, and
Comprehensive Practice Review
Question 1
A nursing student is preparing to perform hand hygiene before entering a patient's
room. Which of the following is the most effective method for removing
microorganisms when hands are visibly soiled?
A) Using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer for 20 seconds
B) Washing hands with soap and water for 15 seconds
C) Washing hands with soap and water for 40-60 seconds
D) Using a chlorhexidine-based cleanser
Answer: C) Washing hands with soap and water for 40-60 seconds
Rationale: The CDC recommends washing hands with soap and water for 40-60
seconds when hands are visibly soiled. This mechanical action removes dirt and
microorganisms effectively. Alcohol-based hand sanitizers (Option A) are effective
for 20-30 seconds but are not effective when hands are visibly soiled or for C.
difficile. Fifteen seconds (Option B) is insufficient.
Question 2
A nurse is preparing to perform hand hygiene using an alcohol-based hand
sanitizer. Which of the following is the correct duration for rubbing hands together
until they are dry?
A) 5-10 seconds
B) 10-15 seconds
C) 20-30 seconds
D) 40-60 seconds
Answer: C) 20-30 seconds
Rationale: When using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer, the CDC recommends
rubbing hands together for 20-30 seconds until they are completely dry. This
,ensures adequate contact time for the sanitizer to be effective. Five to ten seconds
(Option A) is insufficient. Forty to sixty seconds (Option D) is the recommended
duration for handwashing with soap and water.
Question 3
A nursing student is learning about the chain of infection. Which of the following
represents the correct sequence of the chain of infection?
A) Reservoir, Infectious agent, Portal of exit, Mode of transmission, Portal of
entry, Susceptible host
B) Infectious agent, Reservoir, Portal of exit, Mode of transmission, Portal of
entry, Susceptible host
C) Susceptible host, Portal of entry, Mode of transmission, Portal of exit,
Reservoir, Infectious agent
D) Portal of exit, Mode of transmission, Portal of entry, Susceptible host,
Infectious agent, Reservoir
Answer: B) Infectious agent, Reservoir, Portal of exit, Mode of transmission,
Portal of entry, Susceptible host
Rationale: The chain of infection consists of six components in the correct order:
(1) Infectious agent (pathogen), (2) Reservoir (where the pathogen lives), (3) Portal
of exit (how the pathogen leaves the reservoir), (4) Mode of transmission (how the
pathogen is transmitted), (5) Portal of entry (how the pathogen enters the
susceptible host), and (6) Susceptible host. Breaking any link in the chain prevents
infection.
Question 4
A nurse is caring for a patient with a wound infection caused by methicillin-
resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Which type of precautions should the
nurse implement?
A) Standard precautions
B) Contact precautions
C) Droplet precautions
D) Airborne precautions
Answer: B) Contact precautions
,Rationale: MRSA is transmitted by direct or indirect contact. Contact precautions
require a private room or cohorting, gloves, and gown for all client contact.
Standard precautions alone are insufficient for MRSA. Droplet precautions are for
organisms transmitted via respiratory droplets, and airborne precautions are for
tuberculosis and similar pathogens.
Question 5
A nurse is applying personal protective equipment (PPE) before entering a patient's
room. Which of the following is the correct order for putting on PPE?
A) Gown, mask, gloves
B) Mask, gown, gloves
C) Gloves, gown, mask
D) Gown, gloves, mask
Answer: A) Gown, mask, gloves
Rationale: The correct sequence for donning PPE is: gown first (protects the
uniform), then mask (protects mucous membranes), and gloves last (protects
hands). Removing PPE is the reverse: gloves, mask, gown. This sequence prevents
contamination during application.
Question 6
A nurse is caring for a patient with Clostridium difficile. Which of the following is
the correct method for hand hygiene?
A) Alcohol-based hand sanitizer
B) Soap and water
C) Chlorhexidine wipes
D) Betadine solution
Answer: B) Soap and water
Rationale: C. difficile spores are resistant to alcohol-based hand sanitizers. The
mechanical friction and flushing action of washing with soap and water are
required to remove the spores. This is the only appropriate method for hand
hygiene in patients with C. difficile. Chlorhexidine wipes (Option C) and Betadine
solution (Option D) are not effective for C. difficile.
, Question 7
A nurse is preparing a sterile field. Which of the following actions contaminates
the sterile field?
A) Opening the sterile package with the top flap away from the body
B) Placing sterile items 1 inch from the edge of the field
C) Reaching over the sterile field to adjust an item
D) Using sterile gloves to handle sterile items
Answer: C) Reaching over the sterile field to adjust an item
Rationale: Reaching over a sterile field contaminates it because particles can fall
from the arms and clothing onto the field. Sterile items should be placed at least 1
inch from the edge of the field (Option B). Opening the package with the top flap
away from the body (Option A) is correct. Using sterile gloves (Option D) is
correct.
Question 8
A nurse is preparing to insert an indwelling urinary catheter. Which of the
following is the most important action to prevent infection?
A) Use sterile technique throughout the procedure
B) Use clean technique for the procedure
C) Lubricate the catheter with petroleum jelly
D) Inflate the balloon with 30 mL of sterile water
Answer: A) Use sterile technique throughout the procedure
Rationale: Indwelling urinary catheter insertion requires sterile technique to
prevent urinary tract infections. Water-soluble lubricant should be used, not
petroleum jelly (Option C), which can damage the catheter. The balloon should be
inflated with 10 mL of sterile water for a standard Foley catheter (Option D), not
30 mL.
Question 9
A nurse is caring for a patient on airborne precautions. Which of the following
personal protective equipment is required?
