NURS 101L Fundamentals of Nursing Skills Lab Week 3 Quiz (2026
Update) 2026 |WCU
1. A nurse is preparing a sterile field for a catheterization procedure. Which
action would result in the immediate contamination of the sterile field?
A. The nurse opens the outer wrapper of the sterile kit away from the body.
B. The nurse reaches over the sterile field to pick up a gauze sponge.
C. The nurse keeps the sterile gloved hands above the level of the waist.
D. The nurse maintains a one-inch border around the sterile drape as non-sterile.
Answer: B
Rationale: Reaching over a sterile field violates the principles of surgical asepsis because
microorganisms can fall from the nurse’s arm or clothing onto the field. Sterile objects must
only be touched by sterile objects, and the field must remain within the nurse’s sight and
above waist level.
2. When assessing a patient’s blood pressure, the nurse notes an auscultatory
gap. What is the clinical significance of this finding?
A. It indicates the patient is in hypertensive crisis.
B. It is a normal finding in athletes and younger adults.
C. It may lead to an underestimation of systolic pressure or overestimation of diastolic pressure.
D. It signifies that the blood pressure cuff is too small for the patient’s arm.
Answer: C
Rationale: An auscultatory gap is a temporary disappearance of sounds between the first
and second Korotkoff sounds. Failure to recognize it can result in recording a lower systolic
pressure or a higher diastolic pressure than actually exists.
,3. A patient is admitted with a suspected diagnosis of Pulmonary Tuberculosis
(TB). Which type of transmission-based precautions must the nurse implement?
A. Airborne precautions
B. Droplet precautions
C. Contact precautions
D. Standard precautions only
Answer: A
Rationale: Tuberculosis is transmitted through small droplets that remain suspended in
the air. This requires airborne precautions, including a private room with negative
pressure and the use of an N95 respirator mask.
4. The nurse is performing hand hygiene using an alcohol-based hand rub.
Which action indicates correct technique?
A. Rinsing hands with water after applying the rub.
B. Rubbing the hands together until the alcohol has completely dried.
C. Using a paper towel to dry the hands immediately after application.
D. Applying the rub only to the palms and fingertips.
Answer: B
Rationale: For alcohol-based hand rubs to be effective, the product must be rubbed over
all surfaces of the hands and fingers until the solution has completely evaporated/dried,
which usually takes 15-30 seconds.
5. Which of the following patients is at the highest risk for orthostatic
hypotension?
A. A 25-year-old athlete with a resting heart rate of 50 bpm.
B. A 15-year-old patient recovering from an appendectomy.
C. A 45-year-old patient who just finished a high-protein meal.
D. A 70-year-old patient on bed rest receiving diuretic therapy.
Answer: D
, Rationale: Orthostatic hypotension is common in elderly patients, those on prolonged bed
rest, and those taking medications that affect fluid volume or vascular tone, such as
diuretics or antihypertensives.
6. The nurse is donning Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to enter a room
with a patient on Droplet Precautions. What is the correct order of donning?
A. Goggles, Mask, Gloves, Gown
B. Gloves, Goggles, Mask, Gown
C. Mask, Gown, Gloves, Goggles
D. Gown, Mask, Goggles, Gloves
Answer: D
Rationale: The standard sequence for donning PPE recommended by the CDC is Gown
first, followed by Mask or Respirator, then Goggles or Face Shield, and finally Gloves.
7. A nurse is measuring the radial pulse of a patient and notes that it is irregular.
What is the nurse’s next best action?
A. Document the irregular pulse and check again in 4 hours.
B. Measure the apical pulse for one full minute.
C. Use a Doppler ultrasound to locate the pulse.
D. Wait 15 minutes and retake the radial pulse for 30 seconds.
Answer: B
Rationale: If a peripheral pulse is irregular, the nurse should assess the apical pulse
(auscultation at the 5th intercostal space, midclavicular line) for a full 60 seconds to obtain
an accurate heart rate and rhythm.
Update) 2026 |WCU
1. A nurse is preparing a sterile field for a catheterization procedure. Which
action would result in the immediate contamination of the sterile field?
A. The nurse opens the outer wrapper of the sterile kit away from the body.
B. The nurse reaches over the sterile field to pick up a gauze sponge.
C. The nurse keeps the sterile gloved hands above the level of the waist.
D. The nurse maintains a one-inch border around the sterile drape as non-sterile.
Answer: B
Rationale: Reaching over a sterile field violates the principles of surgical asepsis because
microorganisms can fall from the nurse’s arm or clothing onto the field. Sterile objects must
only be touched by sterile objects, and the field must remain within the nurse’s sight and
above waist level.
2. When assessing a patient’s blood pressure, the nurse notes an auscultatory
gap. What is the clinical significance of this finding?
A. It indicates the patient is in hypertensive crisis.
B. It is a normal finding in athletes and younger adults.
C. It may lead to an underestimation of systolic pressure or overestimation of diastolic pressure.
D. It signifies that the blood pressure cuff is too small for the patient’s arm.
Answer: C
Rationale: An auscultatory gap is a temporary disappearance of sounds between the first
and second Korotkoff sounds. Failure to recognize it can result in recording a lower systolic
pressure or a higher diastolic pressure than actually exists.
,3. A patient is admitted with a suspected diagnosis of Pulmonary Tuberculosis
(TB). Which type of transmission-based precautions must the nurse implement?
A. Airborne precautions
B. Droplet precautions
C. Contact precautions
D. Standard precautions only
Answer: A
Rationale: Tuberculosis is transmitted through small droplets that remain suspended in
the air. This requires airborne precautions, including a private room with negative
pressure and the use of an N95 respirator mask.
4. The nurse is performing hand hygiene using an alcohol-based hand rub.
Which action indicates correct technique?
A. Rinsing hands with water after applying the rub.
B. Rubbing the hands together until the alcohol has completely dried.
C. Using a paper towel to dry the hands immediately after application.
D. Applying the rub only to the palms and fingertips.
Answer: B
Rationale: For alcohol-based hand rubs to be effective, the product must be rubbed over
all surfaces of the hands and fingers until the solution has completely evaporated/dried,
which usually takes 15-30 seconds.
5. Which of the following patients is at the highest risk for orthostatic
hypotension?
A. A 25-year-old athlete with a resting heart rate of 50 bpm.
B. A 15-year-old patient recovering from an appendectomy.
C. A 45-year-old patient who just finished a high-protein meal.
D. A 70-year-old patient on bed rest receiving diuretic therapy.
Answer: D
, Rationale: Orthostatic hypotension is common in elderly patients, those on prolonged bed
rest, and those taking medications that affect fluid volume or vascular tone, such as
diuretics or antihypertensives.
6. The nurse is donning Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to enter a room
with a patient on Droplet Precautions. What is the correct order of donning?
A. Goggles, Mask, Gloves, Gown
B. Gloves, Goggles, Mask, Gown
C. Mask, Gown, Gloves, Goggles
D. Gown, Mask, Goggles, Gloves
Answer: D
Rationale: The standard sequence for donning PPE recommended by the CDC is Gown
first, followed by Mask or Respirator, then Goggles or Face Shield, and finally Gloves.
7. A nurse is measuring the radial pulse of a patient and notes that it is irregular.
What is the nurse’s next best action?
A. Document the irregular pulse and check again in 4 hours.
B. Measure the apical pulse for one full minute.
C. Use a Doppler ultrasound to locate the pulse.
D. Wait 15 minutes and retake the radial pulse for 30 seconds.
Answer: B
Rationale: If a peripheral pulse is irregular, the nurse should assess the apical pulse
(auscultation at the 5th intercostal space, midclavicular line) for a full 60 seconds to obtain
an accurate heart rate and rhythm.
