PRE CLINICAL EXAM PRACTICE QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS | PRE-CLINICAL EXAM
STUDY GUIDE & PRACTICE TEST 2026/2027
Which action would the nurse perform first when preparing to apply sterile gloves?
A. Perform hand hygiene.
B. Place the package on a stable, flat surface.
C. Assess the glove packaging for wetness or tears.
D. Open the outer packaging. - ANS ✔✔C
Rationale: The nurse first assesses the packaging for wetness or tears; any breach in the packaging
compromises the sterility of the gloves. The nurse performs hand hygiene after selecting the gloves and
placing them on the work surface. The nurse places the package of gloves on the work surface after
inspecting the integrity of the package. The nurse opens the outer packaging after inspecting the
integrity of the packaging, placing the package on the work surface, and performing hand hygiene.
When are sterile nonlatex gloves recommended for a sterile procedure?
A. When there is a possible sensitivity issue
B. When the staff member prefers them
C. When latex gloves are not conveniently available
D. When the patient prefers them - ANS ✔✔A
Rationale: The possibility of a serious allergic reaction to latex necessitates the use of nonlatex gloves
when the patient or nurse is sensitive to latex. Staff preference is not a reason to select nonlatex sterile
gloves. Staff should use latex gloves unless there is a sensitivity issue. Unless the patient has a known
latex allergy, he or she is not usually consulted regarding the type of glove a staff member uses
What is the most important step the nurse can take to minimize the risk of tearing a sterile glove when
applying it to the hands?
A. Using powdered sterile gloves
B. Keeping the fingernails trimmed and smoothly filed
C. Selecting the proper glove size
D. Drying the hands thoroughly before applying the gloves - ANS ✔✔C
Rationale: Improper glove size is the leading cause of glove tears. Most sterile gloves are powdered.
Since using unpowdered gloves is usually not an option, using powdered gloves does not reduce the risk
of tearing a sterile glove. Keeping the fingernails well-trimmed and smoothly filed is prudent, but it is not
the most important step the nurse can take to reduce the risk of tearing a glove. Drying the hands
thoroughly before applying gloves is prudent, but it is not the most important step the nurse can take to
reduce the risk of glove tears.
After applying sterile gloves, the patient states she is uncomfortable and would like to move to her left
side. What is the best way for the nurse to keep the gloves sterile while waiting for nursing assistive
personnel (NAP) to position the patient for a sterile dressing change?
A. Interlocking the fingers and keeping the hands above waist level
B. Keeping the arms at the sides, with elbows bent and gloved hands pointing up
C. Leaving the room momentarily
D. Stepping back from the bedside where NAP are working - ANS ✔✔A
Rationale: Once the gloves have been applied, the fingers should be interlocked and held in front of the
body above waist level. Keeping the arms at the sides, with elbows bent and gloved hands pointing up is
, not appropriate sterile technique. Leaving the room is not appropriate; the nurse will stay in the
treatment area after gloving. Stepping back from the bedside and other traffic areas is prudent, since
turbulent air can contaminate gloves, but it is not the most important step the nurse can take to keep
gloves sterile.
Which protocol does not vary among institutions?
A. Acceptability of wearing artificial nails in patient care areas
B. Use of impervious transparent dressings to cover open lesions on nurse's hands during sterile
procedures
C. Use of sterile gloves for sterile procedures
D. Sterile gloves are only available in "one size fits all" - ANS ✔✔C
Rationale: By definition, a procedure is not sterile if sterile gloves are not worn. Many, but not all, health
care institutions prohibit artificial nails and extenders in clinical areas. Review your agency's policy before
performing a sterile procedure. In some settings, nurses are allowed to cover open lesions with a sterile,
impervious, transparent dressing. In other settings, the presence of such a lesion may prevent the nurse
from participating in a sterile procedure. Review your agency's policy before performing a sterile
procedure. Sterile gloves are available in various sizes, such as 6½ and 7. The availability of gloves will
vary among institutions.
What is the best reason for a nurse to select a prepackaged sterile kit for a sterile procedure?
A. Sterile prepackaged kits do not have expiration dates.
B. The wrapper of the sterile kit can be used as a sterile field.
C. Adding supplies to the sterile field takes less time than using a prepackaged kit.
D. The prepackaged sterile kit will take up less space on the bedside table. - ANS ✔✔B
Rationale: The container is designed to provide a readily accessible sterile field. Sterile kits do expire and
the nurse should check the date before use. The kit may be outdated or its integrity compromised.
Adding supplies to a sterile field can be time consuming and there is a high risk of contamination.
Although a prepackaged kit may be more compact, space usage on the bedside table is not the top
priority.
Which action is the most important step the nurse can take to keep the field sterile when using an
overbed table as the work surface for a sterile field?
A. Position the table out of the patient's reach.
B. Assess the table for stability.
C. Position the height of the table to be above waist level.
D. Assemble ahead of time any supplies and equipment not included in the kit. - ANS ✔✔C
Rationale: To remain sterile, the field must be above the level of the waist. Anything below waist level is
considered contaminated. Although positioning the table out of the patient's reach is prudent, it is not
the most important step the nurse can take to keep the field sterile. Although assessing the stability of
the table is prudent, doing so pertains to safety, not sterile technique. Although assembling the
necessary additional supplies ahead of time is prudent, this step is unrelated to the use of the overbed
table as the work surface for the sterile field.
While opening a prepackaged sterile kit, a package of sterile 4 × 4-in gauze pads falls to the floor. What
will the nurse ask ancillary staff to do to ensure the integrity of the sterile field
A. "I will have to set up another sterile field; please take these items away."
B. "Please go to the clean utility room and get me a package of sterile 4 × 4-in gauze pads."
C. "Please watch that nothing contaminates this sterile field while I go and get a replacement item."
STUDY GUIDE & PRACTICE TEST 2026/2027
Which action would the nurse perform first when preparing to apply sterile gloves?
A. Perform hand hygiene.
B. Place the package on a stable, flat surface.
C. Assess the glove packaging for wetness or tears.
D. Open the outer packaging. - ANS ✔✔C
Rationale: The nurse first assesses the packaging for wetness or tears; any breach in the packaging
compromises the sterility of the gloves. The nurse performs hand hygiene after selecting the gloves and
placing them on the work surface. The nurse places the package of gloves on the work surface after
inspecting the integrity of the package. The nurse opens the outer packaging after inspecting the
integrity of the packaging, placing the package on the work surface, and performing hand hygiene.
When are sterile nonlatex gloves recommended for a sterile procedure?
A. When there is a possible sensitivity issue
B. When the staff member prefers them
C. When latex gloves are not conveniently available
D. When the patient prefers them - ANS ✔✔A
Rationale: The possibility of a serious allergic reaction to latex necessitates the use of nonlatex gloves
when the patient or nurse is sensitive to latex. Staff preference is not a reason to select nonlatex sterile
gloves. Staff should use latex gloves unless there is a sensitivity issue. Unless the patient has a known
latex allergy, he or she is not usually consulted regarding the type of glove a staff member uses
What is the most important step the nurse can take to minimize the risk of tearing a sterile glove when
applying it to the hands?
A. Using powdered sterile gloves
B. Keeping the fingernails trimmed and smoothly filed
C. Selecting the proper glove size
D. Drying the hands thoroughly before applying the gloves - ANS ✔✔C
Rationale: Improper glove size is the leading cause of glove tears. Most sterile gloves are powdered.
Since using unpowdered gloves is usually not an option, using powdered gloves does not reduce the risk
of tearing a sterile glove. Keeping the fingernails well-trimmed and smoothly filed is prudent, but it is not
the most important step the nurse can take to reduce the risk of tearing a glove. Drying the hands
thoroughly before applying gloves is prudent, but it is not the most important step the nurse can take to
reduce the risk of glove tears.
After applying sterile gloves, the patient states she is uncomfortable and would like to move to her left
side. What is the best way for the nurse to keep the gloves sterile while waiting for nursing assistive
personnel (NAP) to position the patient for a sterile dressing change?
A. Interlocking the fingers and keeping the hands above waist level
B. Keeping the arms at the sides, with elbows bent and gloved hands pointing up
C. Leaving the room momentarily
D. Stepping back from the bedside where NAP are working - ANS ✔✔A
Rationale: Once the gloves have been applied, the fingers should be interlocked and held in front of the
body above waist level. Keeping the arms at the sides, with elbows bent and gloved hands pointing up is
, not appropriate sterile technique. Leaving the room is not appropriate; the nurse will stay in the
treatment area after gloving. Stepping back from the bedside and other traffic areas is prudent, since
turbulent air can contaminate gloves, but it is not the most important step the nurse can take to keep
gloves sterile.
Which protocol does not vary among institutions?
A. Acceptability of wearing artificial nails in patient care areas
B. Use of impervious transparent dressings to cover open lesions on nurse's hands during sterile
procedures
C. Use of sterile gloves for sterile procedures
D. Sterile gloves are only available in "one size fits all" - ANS ✔✔C
Rationale: By definition, a procedure is not sterile if sterile gloves are not worn. Many, but not all, health
care institutions prohibit artificial nails and extenders in clinical areas. Review your agency's policy before
performing a sterile procedure. In some settings, nurses are allowed to cover open lesions with a sterile,
impervious, transparent dressing. In other settings, the presence of such a lesion may prevent the nurse
from participating in a sterile procedure. Review your agency's policy before performing a sterile
procedure. Sterile gloves are available in various sizes, such as 6½ and 7. The availability of gloves will
vary among institutions.
What is the best reason for a nurse to select a prepackaged sterile kit for a sterile procedure?
A. Sterile prepackaged kits do not have expiration dates.
B. The wrapper of the sterile kit can be used as a sterile field.
C. Adding supplies to the sterile field takes less time than using a prepackaged kit.
D. The prepackaged sterile kit will take up less space on the bedside table. - ANS ✔✔B
Rationale: The container is designed to provide a readily accessible sterile field. Sterile kits do expire and
the nurse should check the date before use. The kit may be outdated or its integrity compromised.
Adding supplies to a sterile field can be time consuming and there is a high risk of contamination.
Although a prepackaged kit may be more compact, space usage on the bedside table is not the top
priority.
Which action is the most important step the nurse can take to keep the field sterile when using an
overbed table as the work surface for a sterile field?
A. Position the table out of the patient's reach.
B. Assess the table for stability.
C. Position the height of the table to be above waist level.
D. Assemble ahead of time any supplies and equipment not included in the kit. - ANS ✔✔C
Rationale: To remain sterile, the field must be above the level of the waist. Anything below waist level is
considered contaminated. Although positioning the table out of the patient's reach is prudent, it is not
the most important step the nurse can take to keep the field sterile. Although assessing the stability of
the table is prudent, doing so pertains to safety, not sterile technique. Although assembling the
necessary additional supplies ahead of time is prudent, this step is unrelated to the use of the overbed
table as the work surface for the sterile field.
While opening a prepackaged sterile kit, a package of sterile 4 × 4-in gauze pads falls to the floor. What
will the nurse ask ancillary staff to do to ensure the integrity of the sterile field
A. "I will have to set up another sterile field; please take these items away."
B. "Please go to the clean utility room and get me a package of sterile 4 × 4-in gauze pads."
C. "Please watch that nothing contaminates this sterile field while I go and get a replacement item."
