NCLEX RN SAFETY & INFECTION
CONTROL PRACTICE EXAM 5 Questions
And Correct Answers (Verified Answers)
Plus Rationales 2026 Q&A | Instant
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Standard Precautions and Hand Hygiene
1. Standard Precautions 1
A nurse is preparing to care for a patient who has a suspected Clostridium difficile
infection. Which type of precautions should the nurse implement?
A) Standard precautions only
B) Contact precautions
C) Droplet precautions
D) Airborne precautions
Answer: B) Contact precautions
Rationale: Contact precautions are required for patients with Clostridium difficile
infection because the spores are transmitted through direct contact with
contaminated surfaces or fecal matter. Alcohol-based hand sanitizers are not
effective against C. difficile spores; therefore, the nurse must perform hand
hygiene with soap and water. Contact precautions include wearing gloves and
gowns when entering the patient's room and using dedicated equipment when
possible. Standard precautions alone are insufficient because C. difficile requires
additional barrier protection beyond standard measures. Droplet and airborne
precautions are not appropriate because C. difficile is not transmitted through
respiratory droplets or airborne particles.
,2. Standard Precautions 2
A nurse is caring for a patient with a central venous catheter. Which action
demonstrates proper adherence to standard precautions during catheter care?
A) Wearing sterile gloves when changing the catheter dressing
B) Using alcohol-based hand sanitizer before and after patient contact
C) Wearing a mask during all catheter care procedures
D) Changing the catheter dressing every 72 hours
Answer: A) Wearing sterile gloves when changing the catheter dressing
Rationale: Standard precautions require the use of sterile gloves when
performing procedures that involve sterile sites, such as central venous catheter
dressing changes. This prevents introduction of pathogens into the bloodstream
and reduces the risk of catheter-related bloodstream infections. While alcohol-
based hand sanitizer is appropriate for routine hand hygiene, sterile gloves are
specifically required for sterile procedures. Wearing a mask is not required for all
catheter care procedures unless the patient is immunocompromised or during
sterile insertion. Dressing changes should be performed according to facility
policy, typically every 24 to 48 hours or when soiled, not routinely every 72
hours.
3. Standard Precautions 3
A nurse observes a colleague exit a patient's room without performing hand
hygiene. The colleague had been wearing gloves during the patient encounter.
What is the nurse's most appropriate action?
A) Report the colleague to the nursing supervisor immediately
B) Remind the colleague that hand hygiene is required after glove removal
C) Ignore the incident to avoid conflict with the colleague
D) Document the observation in the colleague's personnel file
Answer: B) Remind the colleague that hand hygiene is required after glove
removal
,Rationale: Gloves are not a substitute for hand hygiene. After removing gloves,
hand hygiene must be performed because gloves may have microscopic defects
or contamination may occur during removal. The nurse should provide a gentle
reminder to the colleague about proper hand hygiene practices. This approach
promotes patient safety while maintaining professional relationships. Reporting
to a supervisor or documenting the incident may be appropriate if the behavior
continues, but the initial response should be education and correction. Ignoring
the incident compromises patient safety and is not a professional response.
4. Standard Precautions 4
A nurse is preparing to administer an intramuscular injection to a patient. Which
personal protective equipment should the nurse wear according to standard
precautions?
A) Gloves only
B) Gloves and a mask
C) Gloves and a gown
D) Gloves, mask, and gown
Answer: A) Gloves only
Rationale: Standard precautions require gloves when there is potential for
contact with blood, body fluids, mucous membranes, or non-intact skin.
Administering an intramuscular injection involves potential exposure to blood,
so gloves are necessary. A mask and gown are not required because there is no
risk of splashing or spraying of body fluids during this procedure. The nurse
should follow standard precautions by wearing gloves and performing hand
hygiene before and after the procedure. Additional PPE may be indicated if the
patient is on transmission-based precautions or if there is a risk of exposure to
other body fluids.
5. Standard Precautions 5
A nurse is caring for a patient who is coughing and has suspected tuberculosis.
, Which action represents the correct application of standard precautions in
addition to transmission-based precautions?
A) Placing the patient in a negative pressure room
B) Wearing an N95 respirator when entering the room
C) Wearing a surgical mask when providing direct care
D) Restricting visitors from entering the patient's room
Answer: B) Wearing an N95 respirator when entering the room
Rationale: Standard precautions are the foundation of infection control and
should be used for all patients. For a patient with suspected tuberculosis,
airborne precautions are required in addition to standard precautions. This
includes wearing an N95 respirator or higher-level respiratory protection when
entering the room. The patient should be placed in a negative pressure room,
but this is part of airborne precautions, not standard precautions. A surgical
mask provides inadequate respiratory protection for airborne diseases. Visitor
restrictions may be appropriate but are not the primary action for standard
precautions. The nurse should always apply standard precautions first and then
add transmission-based precautions as indicated by the patient's condition.
6. Standard Precautions 6
A nurse is preparing to remove personal protective equipment after caring for a
patient on contact precautions. Which sequence demonstrates correct removal
technique?
A) Remove gloves, then gown, then perform hand hygiene
B) Remove gown, then gloves, then perform hand hygiene
C) Remove gloves and gown together, then perform hand hygiene
D) Perform hand hygiene, remove gloves, remove gown, perform hand hygiene
Answer: A) Remove gloves, then gown, then perform hand hygiene
Rationale: The correct sequence for removing PPE is to remove the most
contaminated items first. Gloves are the most contaminated and should be
removed first, followed by the gown. Hand hygiene must be performed
CONTROL PRACTICE EXAM 5 Questions
And Correct Answers (Verified Answers)
Plus Rationales 2026 Q&A | Instant
Download Pdf
Standard Precautions and Hand Hygiene
1. Standard Precautions 1
A nurse is preparing to care for a patient who has a suspected Clostridium difficile
infection. Which type of precautions should the nurse implement?
A) Standard precautions only
B) Contact precautions
C) Droplet precautions
D) Airborne precautions
Answer: B) Contact precautions
Rationale: Contact precautions are required for patients with Clostridium difficile
infection because the spores are transmitted through direct contact with
contaminated surfaces or fecal matter. Alcohol-based hand sanitizers are not
effective against C. difficile spores; therefore, the nurse must perform hand
hygiene with soap and water. Contact precautions include wearing gloves and
gowns when entering the patient's room and using dedicated equipment when
possible. Standard precautions alone are insufficient because C. difficile requires
additional barrier protection beyond standard measures. Droplet and airborne
precautions are not appropriate because C. difficile is not transmitted through
respiratory droplets or airborne particles.
,2. Standard Precautions 2
A nurse is caring for a patient with a central venous catheter. Which action
demonstrates proper adherence to standard precautions during catheter care?
A) Wearing sterile gloves when changing the catheter dressing
B) Using alcohol-based hand sanitizer before and after patient contact
C) Wearing a mask during all catheter care procedures
D) Changing the catheter dressing every 72 hours
Answer: A) Wearing sterile gloves when changing the catheter dressing
Rationale: Standard precautions require the use of sterile gloves when
performing procedures that involve sterile sites, such as central venous catheter
dressing changes. This prevents introduction of pathogens into the bloodstream
and reduces the risk of catheter-related bloodstream infections. While alcohol-
based hand sanitizer is appropriate for routine hand hygiene, sterile gloves are
specifically required for sterile procedures. Wearing a mask is not required for all
catheter care procedures unless the patient is immunocompromised or during
sterile insertion. Dressing changes should be performed according to facility
policy, typically every 24 to 48 hours or when soiled, not routinely every 72
hours.
3. Standard Precautions 3
A nurse observes a colleague exit a patient's room without performing hand
hygiene. The colleague had been wearing gloves during the patient encounter.
What is the nurse's most appropriate action?
A) Report the colleague to the nursing supervisor immediately
B) Remind the colleague that hand hygiene is required after glove removal
C) Ignore the incident to avoid conflict with the colleague
D) Document the observation in the colleague's personnel file
Answer: B) Remind the colleague that hand hygiene is required after glove
removal
,Rationale: Gloves are not a substitute for hand hygiene. After removing gloves,
hand hygiene must be performed because gloves may have microscopic defects
or contamination may occur during removal. The nurse should provide a gentle
reminder to the colleague about proper hand hygiene practices. This approach
promotes patient safety while maintaining professional relationships. Reporting
to a supervisor or documenting the incident may be appropriate if the behavior
continues, but the initial response should be education and correction. Ignoring
the incident compromises patient safety and is not a professional response.
4. Standard Precautions 4
A nurse is preparing to administer an intramuscular injection to a patient. Which
personal protective equipment should the nurse wear according to standard
precautions?
A) Gloves only
B) Gloves and a mask
C) Gloves and a gown
D) Gloves, mask, and gown
Answer: A) Gloves only
Rationale: Standard precautions require gloves when there is potential for
contact with blood, body fluids, mucous membranes, or non-intact skin.
Administering an intramuscular injection involves potential exposure to blood,
so gloves are necessary. A mask and gown are not required because there is no
risk of splashing or spraying of body fluids during this procedure. The nurse
should follow standard precautions by wearing gloves and performing hand
hygiene before and after the procedure. Additional PPE may be indicated if the
patient is on transmission-based precautions or if there is a risk of exposure to
other body fluids.
5. Standard Precautions 5
A nurse is caring for a patient who is coughing and has suspected tuberculosis.
, Which action represents the correct application of standard precautions in
addition to transmission-based precautions?
A) Placing the patient in a negative pressure room
B) Wearing an N95 respirator when entering the room
C) Wearing a surgical mask when providing direct care
D) Restricting visitors from entering the patient's room
Answer: B) Wearing an N95 respirator when entering the room
Rationale: Standard precautions are the foundation of infection control and
should be used for all patients. For a patient with suspected tuberculosis,
airborne precautions are required in addition to standard precautions. This
includes wearing an N95 respirator or higher-level respiratory protection when
entering the room. The patient should be placed in a negative pressure room,
but this is part of airborne precautions, not standard precautions. A surgical
mask provides inadequate respiratory protection for airborne diseases. Visitor
restrictions may be appropriate but are not the primary action for standard
precautions. The nurse should always apply standard precautions first and then
add transmission-based precautions as indicated by the patient's condition.
6. Standard Precautions 6
A nurse is preparing to remove personal protective equipment after caring for a
patient on contact precautions. Which sequence demonstrates correct removal
technique?
A) Remove gloves, then gown, then perform hand hygiene
B) Remove gown, then gloves, then perform hand hygiene
C) Remove gloves and gown together, then perform hand hygiene
D) Perform hand hygiene, remove gloves, remove gown, perform hand hygiene
Answer: A) Remove gloves, then gown, then perform hand hygiene
Rationale: The correct sequence for removing PPE is to remove the most
contaminated items first. Gloves are the most contaminated and should be
removed first, followed by the gown. Hand hygiene must be performed
