NCLEX RN Infection Prevention Exam
100 Questions And Correct Answers
(Verified Answers) Plus Rationales
2026
1. A nurse is preparing to enter the room of a client with suspected
Clostridioides difficile infection. Which action is most appropriate?
A. Wear an N95 respirator only
B. Wear a surgical mask and eye protection
C. Wear gloves and a gown
D. Wear sterile gloves without a gown
Answer: Wear gloves and a gown
Rationale: Contact precautions are indicated for C. difficile. Gloves and a
gown should be worn upon room entry, and soap-and-water hand hygiene is
preferred because alcohol-based hand sanitizer does not reliably destroy C.
difficile spores.
2. Which intervention is most effective for preventing the transmission of
infection in healthcare settings?
A. Wearing gloves for every client interaction
B. Performing hand hygiene
C. Administering prophylactic antibiotics
D. Wearing a surgical mask during all procedures
Answer: Performing hand hygiene
Rationale: Hand hygiene is the single most important measure for preventing
the spread of microorganisms between clients, healthcare workers, and the
environment.
,3. A client is diagnosed with pulmonary tuberculosis. Which type of
precautions should the nurse implement?
A. Contact precautions
B. Droplet precautions
C. Airborne precautions
D. Protective precautions
Answer: Airborne precautions
Rationale: Pulmonary tuberculosis is transmitted through airborne particles.
The client should be placed in an airborne infection isolation room, and
healthcare personnel should use a fit-tested N95 respirator or equivalent.
4. Which personal protective equipment should the nurse use when caring
for a client requiring airborne precautions?
A. Surgical mask
B. N95 respirator
C. Face shield only
D. Sterile gown only
Answer: N95 respirator
Rationale: An N95 respirator or higher-level respirator is required for airborne
precautions because it filters small airborne particles.
5. A nurse is caring for a client with influenza. Which precaution is generally
required?
A. Airborne
B. Droplet
C. Contact only
D. Protective isolation
Answer: Droplet
,Rationale: Influenza is primarily transmitted through respiratory droplets.
Droplet precautions include a surgical mask when working within the
appropriate distance of the client.
6. When should a nurse perform hand hygiene?
A. Only after removing gloves
B. Only before invasive procedures
C. Before and after contact with a client
D. Only when hands appear visibly soiled
Answer: Before and after contact with a client
Rationale: Hand hygiene is required before and after client contact and at
other critical moments, including before aseptic procedures and after contact
with potentially infectious material.
7. A nurse removes gloves after providing wound care. What should the nurse
do next?
A. Immediately put on another pair of gloves
B. Perform hand hygiene
C. Touch the bedside table
D. Document the procedure before washing hands
Answer: Perform hand hygiene
Rationale: Gloves do not replace hand hygiene. Hands should be cleaned
immediately after glove removal because contamination can occur during
glove removal.
8. Which client should the nurse see first?
A. A client with a healed surgical incision
B. A client with a temperature of 38.1°C (100.6°F) after surgery
C. A client with suspected meningococcal meningitis and a new petechial rash
D. A client requesting assistance with bathing
, Answer: A client with suspected meningococcal meningitis and a new
petechial rash
Rationale: Meningococcal meningitis can rapidly progress to sepsis and
requires immediate evaluation and droplet precautions.
9. Which action is appropriate when collecting a sterile specimen?
A. Touch the inside of the specimen container
B. Place the container on the client's bed
C. Maintain aseptic technique
D. Leave the specimen uncovered for several minutes
Answer: Maintain aseptic technique
Rationale: Aseptic technique prevents contamination of the specimen and
reduces the risk of introducing microorganisms to the client or healthcare
environment.
10. A nurse is preparing to insert an indwelling urinary catheter. Which action
helps prevent infection?
A. Using clean technique
B. Maintaining sterile technique
C. Disconnecting the drainage system daily
D. Irrigating the catheter routinely
Answer: Maintaining sterile technique
Rationale: Sterile technique is required for initial urinary catheter insertion to
reduce the introduction of microorganisms into the urinary tract.
11. Which finding indicates that a surgical wound may be infected?
A. Mild tenderness immediately after surgery
B. Small amount of serous drainage
100 Questions And Correct Answers
(Verified Answers) Plus Rationales
2026
1. A nurse is preparing to enter the room of a client with suspected
Clostridioides difficile infection. Which action is most appropriate?
A. Wear an N95 respirator only
B. Wear a surgical mask and eye protection
C. Wear gloves and a gown
D. Wear sterile gloves without a gown
Answer: Wear gloves and a gown
Rationale: Contact precautions are indicated for C. difficile. Gloves and a
gown should be worn upon room entry, and soap-and-water hand hygiene is
preferred because alcohol-based hand sanitizer does not reliably destroy C.
difficile spores.
2. Which intervention is most effective for preventing the transmission of
infection in healthcare settings?
A. Wearing gloves for every client interaction
B. Performing hand hygiene
C. Administering prophylactic antibiotics
D. Wearing a surgical mask during all procedures
Answer: Performing hand hygiene
Rationale: Hand hygiene is the single most important measure for preventing
the spread of microorganisms between clients, healthcare workers, and the
environment.
,3. A client is diagnosed with pulmonary tuberculosis. Which type of
precautions should the nurse implement?
A. Contact precautions
B. Droplet precautions
C. Airborne precautions
D. Protective precautions
Answer: Airborne precautions
Rationale: Pulmonary tuberculosis is transmitted through airborne particles.
The client should be placed in an airborne infection isolation room, and
healthcare personnel should use a fit-tested N95 respirator or equivalent.
4. Which personal protective equipment should the nurse use when caring
for a client requiring airborne precautions?
A. Surgical mask
B. N95 respirator
C. Face shield only
D. Sterile gown only
Answer: N95 respirator
Rationale: An N95 respirator or higher-level respirator is required for airborne
precautions because it filters small airborne particles.
5. A nurse is caring for a client with influenza. Which precaution is generally
required?
A. Airborne
B. Droplet
C. Contact only
D. Protective isolation
Answer: Droplet
,Rationale: Influenza is primarily transmitted through respiratory droplets.
Droplet precautions include a surgical mask when working within the
appropriate distance of the client.
6. When should a nurse perform hand hygiene?
A. Only after removing gloves
B. Only before invasive procedures
C. Before and after contact with a client
D. Only when hands appear visibly soiled
Answer: Before and after contact with a client
Rationale: Hand hygiene is required before and after client contact and at
other critical moments, including before aseptic procedures and after contact
with potentially infectious material.
7. A nurse removes gloves after providing wound care. What should the nurse
do next?
A. Immediately put on another pair of gloves
B. Perform hand hygiene
C. Touch the bedside table
D. Document the procedure before washing hands
Answer: Perform hand hygiene
Rationale: Gloves do not replace hand hygiene. Hands should be cleaned
immediately after glove removal because contamination can occur during
glove removal.
8. Which client should the nurse see first?
A. A client with a healed surgical incision
B. A client with a temperature of 38.1°C (100.6°F) after surgery
C. A client with suspected meningococcal meningitis and a new petechial rash
D. A client requesting assistance with bathing
, Answer: A client with suspected meningococcal meningitis and a new
petechial rash
Rationale: Meningococcal meningitis can rapidly progress to sepsis and
requires immediate evaluation and droplet precautions.
9. Which action is appropriate when collecting a sterile specimen?
A. Touch the inside of the specimen container
B. Place the container on the client's bed
C. Maintain aseptic technique
D. Leave the specimen uncovered for several minutes
Answer: Maintain aseptic technique
Rationale: Aseptic technique prevents contamination of the specimen and
reduces the risk of introducing microorganisms to the client or healthcare
environment.
10. A nurse is preparing to insert an indwelling urinary catheter. Which action
helps prevent infection?
A. Using clean technique
B. Maintaining sterile technique
C. Disconnecting the drainage system daily
D. Irrigating the catheter routinely
Answer: Maintaining sterile technique
Rationale: Sterile technique is required for initial urinary catheter insertion to
reduce the introduction of microorganisms into the urinary tract.
11. Which finding indicates that a surgical wound may be infected?
A. Mild tenderness immediately after surgery
B. Small amount of serous drainage
