CLINICAL NURSING SKILLS AND
TECHNIQUES, 11TH EDITION
COMPREHENSIVE TEST BANK
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS
LATEST UPDATE
1. A nurse is caring for a patient with Clostridium difficile (C. diff). Which hand hygiene
practice is most effective in preventing the spread of this pathogen?
A. Use an alcohol-based hand rub for at least 15 seconds.
B. Apply a chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG) solution to dry hands.
C. Wear sterile gloves for all patient contact.
D. Wash hands with soap and water using friction for at least 15 seconds.
Answer: D
Conceptual Explanation: C. difficile is a spore-forming bacterium. Alcohol-based rubs are
ineffective against spores; mechanical friction with soap and water is required to physically
remove them from the skin.
2. When measuring blood pressure, a nurse uses a cuff that is too narrow for the patient’s
arm circumference. What impact will this have on the reading?
A. The blood pressure reading will be falsely low.
,B. The blood pressure reading will be falsely high.
C. The systolic pressure will be accurate, but the diastolic will be low.
D. The reading will be unaffected if the cuff is placed at heart level.
Answer: B
Conceptual Explanation: A cuff that is too small or narrow requires more inflation
pressure to occlude the artery, resulting in a falsely elevated blood pressure reading.
3. While preparing a sterile field, a nurse realizes that a sterile gauze package has a small
water stain on the outer wrapper. What is the appropriate action?
A. Discard the package as it is considered contaminated.
B. Dry the wrapper with a sterile towel before opening.
C. Use the gauze since the inner contents are still sealed.
D. Spray the stain with antiseptic solution and proceed.
Answer: A
Conceptual Explanation: In sterile technique, any moisture that permeates the sterile
barrier (wicking) causes contamination. A water stain indicates that microorganisms could
have migrated through the barrier.
4. Which site is considered the safest and most preferred for a large-volume intramuscular
(IM) injection in an adult?
A. Ventrogluteal site
, B. Deltoid muscle
C. Dorsogluteal site
D. Vastus lateralis
Answer: A
Conceptual Explanation: The ventrogluteal site is preferred because it is situated away
from major nerves and blood vessels, and the muscle is deep and well-developed.
5. A nurse is mixing Regular insulin and NPH insulin in the same syringe. Which sequence is
correct?
A. Draw Regular insulin first, then NPH insulin.
B. Draw NPH insulin first, then Regular insulin.
C. It does not matter which is drawn first as long as the total dose is correct.
D. Mix the two in a medication cup before drawing them up.
Answer: A
Conceptual Explanation: To prevent contaminating the fast-acting Regular (clear) insulin
with the long-acting NPH (cloudy) insulin, the ‘clear before cloudy’ rule is followed.
6. A nurse is assessing a patient’s nasogastric (NG) tube placement. Which method is the
most reliable for bedside verification of the tube’s position?
A. Auscultating a bolus of air in the epigastrium.
B. Measuring the pH of the aspirated secretions.
TECHNIQUES, 11TH EDITION
COMPREHENSIVE TEST BANK
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS
LATEST UPDATE
1. A nurse is caring for a patient with Clostridium difficile (C. diff). Which hand hygiene
practice is most effective in preventing the spread of this pathogen?
A. Use an alcohol-based hand rub for at least 15 seconds.
B. Apply a chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG) solution to dry hands.
C. Wear sterile gloves for all patient contact.
D. Wash hands with soap and water using friction for at least 15 seconds.
Answer: D
Conceptual Explanation: C. difficile is a spore-forming bacterium. Alcohol-based rubs are
ineffective against spores; mechanical friction with soap and water is required to physically
remove them from the skin.
2. When measuring blood pressure, a nurse uses a cuff that is too narrow for the patient’s
arm circumference. What impact will this have on the reading?
A. The blood pressure reading will be falsely low.
,B. The blood pressure reading will be falsely high.
C. The systolic pressure will be accurate, but the diastolic will be low.
D. The reading will be unaffected if the cuff is placed at heart level.
Answer: B
Conceptual Explanation: A cuff that is too small or narrow requires more inflation
pressure to occlude the artery, resulting in a falsely elevated blood pressure reading.
3. While preparing a sterile field, a nurse realizes that a sterile gauze package has a small
water stain on the outer wrapper. What is the appropriate action?
A. Discard the package as it is considered contaminated.
B. Dry the wrapper with a sterile towel before opening.
C. Use the gauze since the inner contents are still sealed.
D. Spray the stain with antiseptic solution and proceed.
Answer: A
Conceptual Explanation: In sterile technique, any moisture that permeates the sterile
barrier (wicking) causes contamination. A water stain indicates that microorganisms could
have migrated through the barrier.
4. Which site is considered the safest and most preferred for a large-volume intramuscular
(IM) injection in an adult?
A. Ventrogluteal site
, B. Deltoid muscle
C. Dorsogluteal site
D. Vastus lateralis
Answer: A
Conceptual Explanation: The ventrogluteal site is preferred because it is situated away
from major nerves and blood vessels, and the muscle is deep and well-developed.
5. A nurse is mixing Regular insulin and NPH insulin in the same syringe. Which sequence is
correct?
A. Draw Regular insulin first, then NPH insulin.
B. Draw NPH insulin first, then Regular insulin.
C. It does not matter which is drawn first as long as the total dose is correct.
D. Mix the two in a medication cup before drawing them up.
Answer: A
Conceptual Explanation: To prevent contaminating the fast-acting Regular (clear) insulin
with the long-acting NPH (cloudy) insulin, the ‘clear before cloudy’ rule is followed.
6. A nurse is assessing a patient’s nasogastric (NG) tube placement. Which method is the
most reliable for bedside verification of the tube’s position?
A. Auscultating a bolus of air in the epigastrium.
B. Measuring the pH of the aspirated secretions.
