NURS 221 TEST 1 STUDY QUESTIONS 2026/2027 | NURSING PRACTICE
QUESTIONS, ANSWERS & EXAM REVIEW
A patient complains of pain during a dressing change. What would be the most effective intervention the
nurse could initiate at the next dressing change in order to reduce the patient's pain? - ANS
✔✔Premedicate the patient with a prescribed analgesic 30 minutes before the intervention.
Which action reduces the nurse's risk for infection when changing the dressing of an infected abdominal
wound? - ANS ✔✔Use appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE).
What is the nurse's best response when additional bloody drainage appears on the initial abdominal
dressing of a patient who had surgery 7 hours ago? - ANS ✔✔Further assess the patient and the wound.
When changing a patient's surgical dressing 24 hours postoperatively, when would the nurse apply
sterile gloves? - ANS ✔✔After removing the original dressing materials and performing hand hygiene a
second time
Which action would minimize the risk for cross-contamination while cleansing an infected abdominal
surgical wound? - ANS ✔✔Using a new gauze pad for each stroke while cleansing the wound
Which personal protective equipment (PPE) will the nurse wear if there is a risk of a blood splash when
caring for a patient? - ANS ✔✔Gown, gloves, mask, and eye protection
What will the nurse do first when preparing to apply personal protective equipment (PPE) before caring
for a patient in isolation? - ANS ✔✔Perform hand hygiene
The nurse is discussing the guidelines for proper use of PPE by nursing assistive personnel (NAP). Which
statement made by the NAP requires follow-up by the nurse? - ANS ✔✔"I really dislike wearing a mask,
so it's the first thing I take off."
When removing a gown worn as personal protective equipment (PPE) while caring for a patient in
isolation, why does the nurse avoid touching the outside of the gown? - ANS ✔✔To prevent touching
contaminated material with unprotected hands
When delegating patient care that requires nursing assistive personnel (NAP) to use personal protective
equipment (PPE), it is necessary for the nurse to do what first? - ANS ✔✔Review the patient's need for a
specific isolation precaution
When irrigating a wound, how would the nurse know the right amount of pressure to apply? - ANS
✔✔Follow the general rule of keeping the pressure between 4 and 15 psi.
Which action should the nurse avoid before irrigating a patient's foot wound? - ANS ✔✔Warm the
irrigant to body temperature in the microwave.
Which device is used for wound irrigation? - ANS ✔✔19-gauge needle attached to a 35-mL syringe
, Which imaging study or diagnostic test would the nurse review to determine if the pressure ulcer on a
patient's left heel is infected? - ANS ✔✔Culture and sensitivity test
A nurse is irrigating a patient's abdominal wound 2 days postoperatively. Which finding would need to be
reported to the health care provider? - ANS ✔✔Drainage that was not present previously
Which action would the nurse perform first when preparing to apply sterile gloves? - ANS ✔✔Assess the
glove packaging for wetness or tears.
When are sterile nonlatex gloves recommended for a sterile procedure? - ANS ✔✔When there is a
possible sensitivity issue
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? - ANS ✔✔Selecting the proper glove size
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? - ANS ✔✔Interlocking the fingers
and keeping the hands above waist level
Which protocol does not vary among institutions? - ANS ✔✔Use of sterile gloves for sterile procedures
The health care provider writes an order for a culture specimen to be collected from a patient with a dog
bite wound. What would the nurse do first? - ANS ✔✔Review the order to determine the type of
specimen to be collected.
Which action would the nurse take to reduce the risk for wound infection when collecting a specimen for
culture? - ANS ✔✔Collect the specimen while wearing sterile gloves.
Which question might the nurse ask the patient when an aerobic wound culture has been ordered? -
ANS ✔✔"Do you have any pain at the wound site?"
Which instruction might the nurse give to the NAP to help ensure that a wound culture specimen will be
transported properly? - ANS ✔✔"Take this specimen to the lab immediately."
Which nursing action demonstrates proper procedure in the collection of a wound culture specimen? -
ANS ✔✔Wearing clean gloves to remove soiled dressings
Which action would the nurse take to ensure the safety of an older adult patient who has received an
enema? - ANS ✔✔Provide assistance to the bathroom for expulsion of fluid and stool.
The nurse is preparing to administer an enema. How can the nurse best facilitate insertion of the rectal
tube? - ANS ✔✔Lubricate the first 6.5 to 7.5 cm (2.5 to 3 inches) of the tip of the tube.
The nurse is delegating to nursing assistive personnel (NAP) the administration of an enema for an older
adult patient who is recovering from a stroke. The enema order reads, "Enemas until clear." Which
statement made by NAP requires the nurse to follow-up? - ANS ✔✔"It may take three or four enemas to
achieve a clear return."
QUESTIONS, ANSWERS & EXAM REVIEW
A patient complains of pain during a dressing change. What would be the most effective intervention the
nurse could initiate at the next dressing change in order to reduce the patient's pain? - ANS
✔✔Premedicate the patient with a prescribed analgesic 30 minutes before the intervention.
Which action reduces the nurse's risk for infection when changing the dressing of an infected abdominal
wound? - ANS ✔✔Use appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE).
What is the nurse's best response when additional bloody drainage appears on the initial abdominal
dressing of a patient who had surgery 7 hours ago? - ANS ✔✔Further assess the patient and the wound.
When changing a patient's surgical dressing 24 hours postoperatively, when would the nurse apply
sterile gloves? - ANS ✔✔After removing the original dressing materials and performing hand hygiene a
second time
Which action would minimize the risk for cross-contamination while cleansing an infected abdominal
surgical wound? - ANS ✔✔Using a new gauze pad for each stroke while cleansing the wound
Which personal protective equipment (PPE) will the nurse wear if there is a risk of a blood splash when
caring for a patient? - ANS ✔✔Gown, gloves, mask, and eye protection
What will the nurse do first when preparing to apply personal protective equipment (PPE) before caring
for a patient in isolation? - ANS ✔✔Perform hand hygiene
The nurse is discussing the guidelines for proper use of PPE by nursing assistive personnel (NAP). Which
statement made by the NAP requires follow-up by the nurse? - ANS ✔✔"I really dislike wearing a mask,
so it's the first thing I take off."
When removing a gown worn as personal protective equipment (PPE) while caring for a patient in
isolation, why does the nurse avoid touching the outside of the gown? - ANS ✔✔To prevent touching
contaminated material with unprotected hands
When delegating patient care that requires nursing assistive personnel (NAP) to use personal protective
equipment (PPE), it is necessary for the nurse to do what first? - ANS ✔✔Review the patient's need for a
specific isolation precaution
When irrigating a wound, how would the nurse know the right amount of pressure to apply? - ANS
✔✔Follow the general rule of keeping the pressure between 4 and 15 psi.
Which action should the nurse avoid before irrigating a patient's foot wound? - ANS ✔✔Warm the
irrigant to body temperature in the microwave.
Which device is used for wound irrigation? - ANS ✔✔19-gauge needle attached to a 35-mL syringe
, Which imaging study or diagnostic test would the nurse review to determine if the pressure ulcer on a
patient's left heel is infected? - ANS ✔✔Culture and sensitivity test
A nurse is irrigating a patient's abdominal wound 2 days postoperatively. Which finding would need to be
reported to the health care provider? - ANS ✔✔Drainage that was not present previously
Which action would the nurse perform first when preparing to apply sterile gloves? - ANS ✔✔Assess the
glove packaging for wetness or tears.
When are sterile nonlatex gloves recommended for a sterile procedure? - ANS ✔✔When there is a
possible sensitivity issue
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? - ANS ✔✔Selecting the proper glove size
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? - ANS ✔✔Interlocking the fingers
and keeping the hands above waist level
Which protocol does not vary among institutions? - ANS ✔✔Use of sterile gloves for sterile procedures
The health care provider writes an order for a culture specimen to be collected from a patient with a dog
bite wound. What would the nurse do first? - ANS ✔✔Review the order to determine the type of
specimen to be collected.
Which action would the nurse take to reduce the risk for wound infection when collecting a specimen for
culture? - ANS ✔✔Collect the specimen while wearing sterile gloves.
Which question might the nurse ask the patient when an aerobic wound culture has been ordered? -
ANS ✔✔"Do you have any pain at the wound site?"
Which instruction might the nurse give to the NAP to help ensure that a wound culture specimen will be
transported properly? - ANS ✔✔"Take this specimen to the lab immediately."
Which nursing action demonstrates proper procedure in the collection of a wound culture specimen? -
ANS ✔✔Wearing clean gloves to remove soiled dressings
Which action would the nurse take to ensure the safety of an older adult patient who has received an
enema? - ANS ✔✔Provide assistance to the bathroom for expulsion of fluid and stool.
The nurse is preparing to administer an enema. How can the nurse best facilitate insertion of the rectal
tube? - ANS ✔✔Lubricate the first 6.5 to 7.5 cm (2.5 to 3 inches) of the tip of the tube.
The nurse is delegating to nursing assistive personnel (NAP) the administration of an enema for an older
adult patient who is recovering from a stroke. The enema order reads, "Enemas until clear." Which
statement made by NAP requires the nurse to follow-up? - ANS ✔✔"It may take three or four enemas to
achieve a clear return."
