Exam Questions and CORRECT Answers
Microorganisms - CORRECT ANSWER - Minuscule living bodies that cannot be seen
without a microscope
Pathogens - CORRECT ANSWER - Microorganisms that cause infection in humans
Health Care-associated infection (HAI) - CORRECT ANSWER - An infection that is
acquired while a patient is being cared for in any health-care setting
Primary Infection - CORRECT ANSWER - Infection caused by one pathogen only
Localized infection - CORRECT ANSWER - AN infection in one area of the body
Septicemia - CORRECT ANSWER - Microorganisms multiplying and present in the
blood
medical asepsis - CORRECT ANSWER - Practices performed to prevent the spread of
infection; clean technique
surgical asepsis - CORRECT ANSWER - maintaining a sterile environment such as that
found in operating rooms
disinfectant - CORRECT ANSWER - cleaning agent that removes most pathogens except
some viruses and spore-forming bacteria
Direct Contact - CORRECT ANSWER - Method by which microorganisms spread
directly from one person to another
,Normal Flora and Fauna - CORRECT ANSWER - The tiny plants and animals normally
found in the human body
Vector - CORRECT ANSWER - is an insect, tick, or mite that spreads infection when it
bites humans
Chain of Infection - CORRECT ANSWER - The sequence of events that must occur for
infection to spread from one person to another
Secondary Infection - CORRECT ANSWER - an infection caused by a different pathogen
than the primary pathogen
Systemic Infection - CORRECT ANSWER - one that spreads through the bloodstream
from one site to another
Standard Precautions - CORRECT ANSWER - a group of safety measures performed to
prevent the transmission of pathogens found in the blood and body fluids
Transmission-based precaution - CORRECT ANSWER - to prevent the spread of known
infection to patients or health care staff, this is used.
Sterile Technique - CORRECT ANSWER - When you perform procedures in such a way
that no pathogens will enter the patient when you insert tubes or give injections
Sterilization - CORRECT ANSWER - removes all pathogens using steam under pressure,
heat, gas, or chemicals
Indirect Contact - CORRECT ANSWER - occurs when microorganisms leave one patient
and contaminate an object, such as a blood pressure cuff, which is then used on another patient.
,To protect other patients, yourself, and your family from contagious pathogens such as MRSA,
you will:
A. Wash your hands before and after wearing gloves.
B. Use standard precautions at all times.
C. Keep your immune system healthy.
D. Use transmission-based precautions when indicated.
E. Use surgical asepsis at all times when caring for patients.
F. Use hand sanitizer to sterilize your hands after being in a patient's room. - CORRECT
ANSWER - A, B, C, D
When examining a wound drainage specimen under the microscope, you see sphere-shaped
microorganisms in chains, appearing similar to a bead necklace. You are looking at? -
CORRECT ANSWER - Streptococci
An antibiotic is described as effective against gram-positive bacteria. This means that the
bacteria:
A. appear pink or red after the slide is flooded with gram stain and rinsed with alcohol
B. will not be killed by the antibiotic but will be prevented from multiplying
C. appear purple or blue after the slide is flooded with gram stain and rinsed with alcohol
D. are positive for spore-forming characteristics and cannot be killed by any antibiotic -
CORRECT ANSWER -C
Why would emptying the bedside commode be a nursing responsibility rather than a
housekeeping responsibility?
A. nurses are responsible for doing everything for their patients, including housekeeping tasks.
B. Nurses are responsible for measuring urine output and creating a pleasant environment for
patients.
, C. Nurses can delegate that task to the housekeeping staff, but they must have a doctor's order to
do so.
D. The housekeeping staff should not be expected to perform any task that might put them at risk
for contact with blood or bodily fluids. - CORRECT ANSWER -B
When teaching a patient how to perform a skill such as administering an insulin injection, be
sure to:
A. perform the skill repeatedly so the patient will learn how to do it by watching you
B. Ask the patient how he or she has seen the injection done by others in the past
C. have the patient try to perform the skill first and then teach the correct way by pointing out his
or her errors
D. Include instructions on the correct way to perform hand washing in the skill - CORRECT
ANSWER -D
A patient confides in you that a nurse on a previous shift did not wash her hands before changing
the IV bag and tubing. The patient is concerned about this. How will you respond?
A. " You might want to report her to the head nurse if it happens again"
B. "It is appropriate for you to ask any health-care worker to perform hand hygiene before
touching your tubes"
C. "I am sure she used hand sanitizer when she came into the room and you just id not see her do
it"
D. " I will talk to her personally and make sure that she knows not to touch you or your tubes
without performing hand hygiene" - CORRECT ANSWER -B
You have been delegated the personal care of a patient with Clostridium Difficile to an
unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP). As the supervising nurse, your responsibilities include:
A. Asking the UAP at the end of the shift if there were any problems caring for the patient.
B. Ensuring that the UAP knows the correct precautions to take to prevent transmission of
bacteria
C. Observing the UAP carefully to ascertain his or her abilities regarding transmission-based
precautions.