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NUR 242 Exam 2
Infection Control & Patient
Safety
NCLEX-Style Practice Questions with Rationales
Topic Focus: Infection Control, Asepsis, Precautions, & Patient Safety
Edition 1 · September 2026
Table of Contents
1. Instructions for Use 2
2. Practice Questions with Answers & Rationales — Infection Control & Patient Safety 2
NUR 242 · Galen College of Nursing Page 1
,NUR 242 EXAM 2 PRACTICE GUIDE INSTRUCTIONS & PRACTICE QUESTIONS
How to Use This Guide
Read each stem, choose your answer, then check the rationale directly below it. The correct
option is marked, and each wrong option is explained so you understand why it's wrong — not
just that it is.
Category: Infection Control & Patient Safety
1. The nurse is reviewing the chain of infection. Which sequence correctly lists
the parts of the chain of infection in order?
A. Infectious agent → Reservoir → Portal of exit → Mode of transmission → Portal of entry →
Susceptible host.
B. Reservoir → Infectious agent → Portal of exit → Portal of entry → Mode of transmission →
Susceptible host.
C. Susceptible host → Portal of entry → Mode of transmission → Portal of exit → Reservoir →
Infectious agent.
D. Infectious agent → Portal of exit → Reservoir → Mode of transmission → Portal of entry →
Susceptible host.
✦ CORRECT ANSWER: A. Infectious agent → Reservoir → Portal of exit →
Mode of transmission → Portal of entry → Susceptible host.
Rationale:
The chain of infection is: infectious agent, reservoir, portal of exit, mode of transmission, portal of
entry, and susceptible host. Breaking any link in this chain prevents infection.
,2. The nurse is teaching a patient about infection control. Which definition best
describes an infectious agent?
A. Something that contains bacteria, fungi, virus, parasite(s), or prion(s).
B. The habitat where the infectious agent lives and grows.
C. The means by which the infectious agent leaves the reservoir.
D. How the infectious agent moves from place to place.
✦ CORRECT ANSWER: A. Something that contains bacteria, fungi, virus,
parasite(s), or prion(s).
Rationale:
An infectious agent is something that contains bacteria, fungi, viruses, parasites, or prions. It is
the pathogen that causes disease.
3. The nurse is identifying reservoirs of infection. Which of the following is an
example of an inanimate reservoir?
A. Contaminated soil.
B. A person with an infection.
C. A mosquito.
D. A bird.
✦ CORRECT ANSWER: A. Contaminated soil.
Rationale:
Inanimate reservoirs include contaminated soil, water, food, medical equipment, IV fluids, and
feces. People, insects, birds, and animals are animate reservoirs.
, 4. Which of the following is a portal of exit for an infectious agent?
A. Any body orifice (ears, nose, or mouth).
B. Contaminated food.
C. A mosquito.
D. A susceptible host.
✦ CORRECT ANSWER: A. Any body orifice (ears, nose, or mouth).
Rationale:
A portal of exit is the means by which the infectious agent can leave the reservoir. Examples
include any body orifice (ears, nose, mouth), the skin, or blood and body fluids that leave the
body through coughing, sneezing, etc.
5. The nurse is educating a patient about how infections spread. Which term
describes how a bacteria, virus, fungus, parasite, or prion moves from place to
place?
A. Mode of transmission.
B. Portal of entry.
C. Reservoir.
D. Susceptible host.
✦ CORRECT ANSWER: A. Mode of transmission.
Rationale:
Mode of transmission is how a bacteria, virus, fungus, parasite, or prion moves from place to
place. It is a critical link in the chain of infection.
NUR 242 Exam 2
Infection Control & Patient
Safety
NCLEX-Style Practice Questions with Rationales
Topic Focus: Infection Control, Asepsis, Precautions, & Patient Safety
Edition 1 · September 2026
Table of Contents
1. Instructions for Use 2
2. Practice Questions with Answers & Rationales — Infection Control & Patient Safety 2
NUR 242 · Galen College of Nursing Page 1
,NUR 242 EXAM 2 PRACTICE GUIDE INSTRUCTIONS & PRACTICE QUESTIONS
How to Use This Guide
Read each stem, choose your answer, then check the rationale directly below it. The correct
option is marked, and each wrong option is explained so you understand why it's wrong — not
just that it is.
Category: Infection Control & Patient Safety
1. The nurse is reviewing the chain of infection. Which sequence correctly lists
the parts of the chain of infection in order?
A. Infectious agent → Reservoir → Portal of exit → Mode of transmission → Portal of entry →
Susceptible host.
B. Reservoir → Infectious agent → Portal of exit → Portal of entry → Mode of transmission →
Susceptible host.
C. Susceptible host → Portal of entry → Mode of transmission → Portal of exit → Reservoir →
Infectious agent.
D. Infectious agent → Portal of exit → Reservoir → Mode of transmission → Portal of entry →
Susceptible host.
✦ CORRECT ANSWER: A. Infectious agent → Reservoir → Portal of exit →
Mode of transmission → Portal of entry → Susceptible host.
Rationale:
The chain of infection is: infectious agent, reservoir, portal of exit, mode of transmission, portal of
entry, and susceptible host. Breaking any link in this chain prevents infection.
,2. The nurse is teaching a patient about infection control. Which definition best
describes an infectious agent?
A. Something that contains bacteria, fungi, virus, parasite(s), or prion(s).
B. The habitat where the infectious agent lives and grows.
C. The means by which the infectious agent leaves the reservoir.
D. How the infectious agent moves from place to place.
✦ CORRECT ANSWER: A. Something that contains bacteria, fungi, virus,
parasite(s), or prion(s).
Rationale:
An infectious agent is something that contains bacteria, fungi, viruses, parasites, or prions. It is
the pathogen that causes disease.
3. The nurse is identifying reservoirs of infection. Which of the following is an
example of an inanimate reservoir?
A. Contaminated soil.
B. A person with an infection.
C. A mosquito.
D. A bird.
✦ CORRECT ANSWER: A. Contaminated soil.
Rationale:
Inanimate reservoirs include contaminated soil, water, food, medical equipment, IV fluids, and
feces. People, insects, birds, and animals are animate reservoirs.
, 4. Which of the following is a portal of exit for an infectious agent?
A. Any body orifice (ears, nose, or mouth).
B. Contaminated food.
C. A mosquito.
D. A susceptible host.
✦ CORRECT ANSWER: A. Any body orifice (ears, nose, or mouth).
Rationale:
A portal of exit is the means by which the infectious agent can leave the reservoir. Examples
include any body orifice (ears, nose, mouth), the skin, or blood and body fluids that leave the
body through coughing, sneezing, etc.
5. The nurse is educating a patient about how infections spread. Which term
describes how a bacteria, virus, fungus, parasite, or prion moves from place to
place?
A. Mode of transmission.
B. Portal of entry.
C. Reservoir.
D. Susceptible host.
✦ CORRECT ANSWER: A. Mode of transmission.
Rationale:
Mode of transmission is how a bacteria, virus, fungus, parasite, or prion moves from place to
place. It is a critical link in the chain of infection.
