BSN 206 Hallmark Exam Study Guide: Nursing
Fundamentals Core Concepts Q&As
QUESTION 1
what is the most effective way to prevent the spread of infection in a healthcare
setting?
A. Wearing gloves for all patient contact
B. Performing hand hygiene before and after patient contact
C. Isolating all patients with infections
D. administering prophylactic antibiotics to all patients
Answer: B. Performing hand hygiene before and after patient contact
Rationale: Hand hygiene is the single most important and effective practice to prevent
the transmission of microorganisms and healthcare-associated infections. While other
measures like gloves and isolation are important, hand hygiene is the foundational
practice.
QUESTION 2
Health personnel should wash their hands with soap and water at the beginning of
the shift for:
A. 1 minute
B. 10 seconds
C. 15 seconds
D. 2 minutes
Answer: C. 15 seconds
Rationale: The recommended duration for handwashing with soap and water is
approximately 15 seconds. This allows enough time for mechanical removal of
transient microorganisms.
QUESTION 3
The nurse is performing hand hygiene before assisting a healthcare provider with
,insertion of a chest tube. While washing hands, the nurse touches the sink. Which
action will the nurse take next?
A. Inform the healthcare provider and recruit another nurse to assist
B. Rinse and dry hands and begin assisting the healthcare provider
C. Extend the handwashing procedure to 5 minutes
D. Repeat handwashing using antiseptic soap
Answer: D. Repeat handwashing using antiseptic soap
Rationale: If the hands touch the sink during handwashing, contamination has
occurred. The nurse must repeat the entire handwashing procedure with antiseptic
soap to ensure proper cleanliness.
QUESTION 4
When the nurse is wearing sterile gloves, which action would result in the gloves
becoming nonsterile?
A. Place sterile gloved hands below the waist
B. Use correct protocol when donning sterile gloves
C. Change a dressing using aseptic technique
D. Fold gloved hands until procedure begins
Answer: A. Place sterile gloved hands below the waist
Rationale: In sterile technique, anything below the waist is considered contaminated.
Sterile gloved hands must be kept above waist level to maintain sterility.
QUESTION 5
The nurse explains that medical asepsis differs from surgical asepsis in that medical
asepsis:
A. Kills all organisms
B. Is confined to the client's room
C. Uses sterile attire to protect the client
D. Uses sterile equipment before contact with the client
Answer: B. Is confined to the client's room
,Rationale: Medical asepsis (clean technique) involves practices that reduce the number
and transmission of pathogens, whereas surgical asepsis (sterile technique) eliminates
all microorganisms.
QUESTION 6
A client was hospitalized for surgical repair of a fractured hip. Upon admission, her
lungs were clear to auscultation and she was afebrile. Her discharge was delayed
because she developed a fever and respiratory distress. A chest x-ray confirmed left
lower lobe pneumonia. Which type of infection best describes what this client has?
A. A drug-resistant infection
B. A systemic infection
C. A local infection
D. A healthcare-associated infection
Answer: D. A healthcare-associated infection (HAI)
Rationale: Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) are infections acquired during the
course of receiving healthcare treatment for another condition. This patient developed
pneumonia while hospitalized, making it an HAI.
QUESTION 7
Which of the following are symptoms of a systemic infection? (Select all that apply.)
A. Pain or tenderness
B. Redness
C. Nausea and vomiting
D. Fatigue
E. Fever
F. Edema
Answer: C. Nausea and vomiting; D. Fatigue; E. Fever
Rationale: Systemic infection symptoms affect the entire body and include nausea and
vomiting, fatigue, and fever. Pain, redness, and edema are typically local signs of
infection.
, QUESTION 8
A client reports an allergy to latex. What alterations should be made in the client's
care? (Select all that apply.)
A. Use latex-free or synthetic gloves when gloves are necessary
B. Avoid wearing gloves unless absolutely necessary and only for short periods
C. Avoid use of alcohol-based hand rubs
D. Remove items that contain latex in the care of the client
E. Determine whether syringes, IV tubing, and catheters contain latex
Answer: A, D, and E
Rationale: For a patient with a latex allergy, the plan of care should eliminate or
minimize exposure. This includes using latex-free gloves, removing all latex-containing
items from the patient's environment, and verifying that equipment like syringes and
IV tubing is latex-free.
QUESTION 9
When teaching a student nurse about removing PPE, the nurse would include which
correct order of equipment removal?
A. Gloves, Eyewear, Gown, Mask
B. Gloves, Gown, Eyewear, Mask
C. Gown, Gloves, Eyewear, Mask
D. Mask, Gown, Gloves, Eyewear
Answer: B. Gloves, Gown, Eyewear, Mask
Rationale: The correct order for removing PPE is: gloves first (most contaminated),
followed by gown, then eyewear/face shield, and mask last. This sequence minimizes
the risk of contaminating oneself during removal.
QUESTION 10
Which of the following are appropriate actions when caring for a client on droplet
precautions? (Select all that apply.)
A. Place the client in a room that has negative air pressure of at least six exchanges
per hour
B. Wear a mask when providing care within 3 feet of the client
Fundamentals Core Concepts Q&As
QUESTION 1
what is the most effective way to prevent the spread of infection in a healthcare
setting?
A. Wearing gloves for all patient contact
B. Performing hand hygiene before and after patient contact
C. Isolating all patients with infections
D. administering prophylactic antibiotics to all patients
Answer: B. Performing hand hygiene before and after patient contact
Rationale: Hand hygiene is the single most important and effective practice to prevent
the transmission of microorganisms and healthcare-associated infections. While other
measures like gloves and isolation are important, hand hygiene is the foundational
practice.
QUESTION 2
Health personnel should wash their hands with soap and water at the beginning of
the shift for:
A. 1 minute
B. 10 seconds
C. 15 seconds
D. 2 minutes
Answer: C. 15 seconds
Rationale: The recommended duration for handwashing with soap and water is
approximately 15 seconds. This allows enough time for mechanical removal of
transient microorganisms.
QUESTION 3
The nurse is performing hand hygiene before assisting a healthcare provider with
,insertion of a chest tube. While washing hands, the nurse touches the sink. Which
action will the nurse take next?
A. Inform the healthcare provider and recruit another nurse to assist
B. Rinse and dry hands and begin assisting the healthcare provider
C. Extend the handwashing procedure to 5 minutes
D. Repeat handwashing using antiseptic soap
Answer: D. Repeat handwashing using antiseptic soap
Rationale: If the hands touch the sink during handwashing, contamination has
occurred. The nurse must repeat the entire handwashing procedure with antiseptic
soap to ensure proper cleanliness.
QUESTION 4
When the nurse is wearing sterile gloves, which action would result in the gloves
becoming nonsterile?
A. Place sterile gloved hands below the waist
B. Use correct protocol when donning sterile gloves
C. Change a dressing using aseptic technique
D. Fold gloved hands until procedure begins
Answer: A. Place sterile gloved hands below the waist
Rationale: In sterile technique, anything below the waist is considered contaminated.
Sterile gloved hands must be kept above waist level to maintain sterility.
QUESTION 5
The nurse explains that medical asepsis differs from surgical asepsis in that medical
asepsis:
A. Kills all organisms
B. Is confined to the client's room
C. Uses sterile attire to protect the client
D. Uses sterile equipment before contact with the client
Answer: B. Is confined to the client's room
,Rationale: Medical asepsis (clean technique) involves practices that reduce the number
and transmission of pathogens, whereas surgical asepsis (sterile technique) eliminates
all microorganisms.
QUESTION 6
A client was hospitalized for surgical repair of a fractured hip. Upon admission, her
lungs were clear to auscultation and she was afebrile. Her discharge was delayed
because she developed a fever and respiratory distress. A chest x-ray confirmed left
lower lobe pneumonia. Which type of infection best describes what this client has?
A. A drug-resistant infection
B. A systemic infection
C. A local infection
D. A healthcare-associated infection
Answer: D. A healthcare-associated infection (HAI)
Rationale: Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) are infections acquired during the
course of receiving healthcare treatment for another condition. This patient developed
pneumonia while hospitalized, making it an HAI.
QUESTION 7
Which of the following are symptoms of a systemic infection? (Select all that apply.)
A. Pain or tenderness
B. Redness
C. Nausea and vomiting
D. Fatigue
E. Fever
F. Edema
Answer: C. Nausea and vomiting; D. Fatigue; E. Fever
Rationale: Systemic infection symptoms affect the entire body and include nausea and
vomiting, fatigue, and fever. Pain, redness, and edema are typically local signs of
infection.
, QUESTION 8
A client reports an allergy to latex. What alterations should be made in the client's
care? (Select all that apply.)
A. Use latex-free or synthetic gloves when gloves are necessary
B. Avoid wearing gloves unless absolutely necessary and only for short periods
C. Avoid use of alcohol-based hand rubs
D. Remove items that contain latex in the care of the client
E. Determine whether syringes, IV tubing, and catheters contain latex
Answer: A, D, and E
Rationale: For a patient with a latex allergy, the plan of care should eliminate or
minimize exposure. This includes using latex-free gloves, removing all latex-containing
items from the patient's environment, and verifying that equipment like syringes and
IV tubing is latex-free.
QUESTION 9
When teaching a student nurse about removing PPE, the nurse would include which
correct order of equipment removal?
A. Gloves, Eyewear, Gown, Mask
B. Gloves, Gown, Eyewear, Mask
C. Gown, Gloves, Eyewear, Mask
D. Mask, Gown, Gloves, Eyewear
Answer: B. Gloves, Gown, Eyewear, Mask
Rationale: The correct order for removing PPE is: gloves first (most contaminated),
followed by gown, then eyewear/face shield, and mask last. This sequence minimizes
the risk of contaminating oneself during removal.
QUESTION 10
Which of the following are appropriate actions when caring for a client on droplet
precautions? (Select all that apply.)
A. Place the client in a room that has negative air pressure of at least six exchanges
per hour
B. Wear a mask when providing care within 3 feet of the client
