Infection Control Competency Exam —
Code: NUR-IPC | 100-Question
Advanced Practice Exam 2026 |
Questions & Answers with Detailed
Rationales | Complete Exam Prep &
Study Guide
1. A nurse enters the room of a patient with suspected Clostridioides difficile
infection. Which action is most appropriate before providing direct patient
care?
A. Don an N95 respirator
B. Perform hand hygiene and don gloves and a gown
C. Wear a surgical mask only
D. Use alcohol-based hand sanitizer and enter without PPE
Answer: Perform hand hygiene and don gloves and a gown
Rationale: Contact precautions are indicated for suspected or confirmed C.
difficile. Gloves and gowns should be donned before entering the patient's care
,environment. Soap-and-water hand hygiene is preferred after caring for a
patient with C. difficile because alcohol-based products do not reliably eliminate
spores.
2. A nurse sustains a needlestick injury immediately after administering an
injection. What should the nurse do first?
A. Complete an incident report
B. Apply a sterile dressing
C. Wash the area immediately with soap and water
D. Wait for the patient's laboratory results
Answer: Wash the area immediately with soap and water
Rationale: Immediate cleansing is the first response after a percutaneous
exposure. The exposure should then be reported promptly so risk assessment,
source-patient evaluation, and appropriate post-exposure management can
occur.
3. Which intervention is most effective for preventing transmission of
healthcare-associated infections?
A. Wearing gloves for every patient interaction
B. Performing appropriate hand hygiene
C. Administering prophylactic antibiotics
D. Using sterile gloves for routine care
Answer: Performing appropriate hand hygiene
Rationale: Hand hygiene is one of the most effective measures for interrupting
transmission of microorganisms in healthcare settings. Gloves do not replace
hand hygiene.
4. A nurse is caring for a patient with pulmonary tuberculosis. Which
respiratory protection is required?
A. Surgical mask
B. Face shield
,C. Fit-tested N95 respirator or equivalent
D. Standard procedure mask
Answer: Fit-tested N95 respirator or equivalent
Rationale: Tuberculosis is transmitted through airborne particles. Appropriate
respiratory protection includes a fit-tested N95 respirator or a higher-level
respirator according to facility policy.
5. A patient with influenza is admitted to a medical unit. Which precautions
are generally required?
A. Airborne precautions only
B. Droplet precautions with standard precautions
C. Contact precautions only
D. Protective isolation
Answer: Droplet precautions with standard precautions
Rationale: Seasonal influenza is primarily transmitted through respiratory
droplets. Standard precautions remain applicable, with additional droplet
precautions according to institutional policy.
6. Which microorganism is particularly associated with healthcare-associated
infections involving indwelling urinary catheters?
A. Candida auris only
B. Escherichia coli and other enteric organisms
C. Mycobacterium tuberculosis
D. Bordetella pertussis
Answer: Escherichia coli and other enteric organisms
Rationale: Catheter-associated urinary tract infections commonly involve
organisms from the patient's gastrointestinal or perineal flora, including E. coli.
Limiting catheter use and maintaining a closed drainage system are important
preventive measures.
, 7. A nurse is preparing to insert a central venous catheter. Which intervention
is most important for reducing catheter-related bloodstream infection?
A. Wearing clean gloves only
B. Using maximal sterile barrier precautions
C. Applying antibiotic ointment to the insertion site routinely
D. Changing the catheter every 24 hours
Answer: Using maximal sterile barrier precautions
Rationale: Maximal sterile barrier precautions during central venous catheter
insertion reduce bloodstream infection risk. These include appropriate sterile
gown, gloves, cap, mask, and a large sterile drape.
8. Which antiseptic is generally preferred for skin preparation before central
venous catheter insertion when there is no contraindication?
A. Sterile water
B. Chlorhexidine-based preparation
C. Hydrogen peroxide
D. Normal saline
Answer: Chlorhexidine-based preparation
Rationale: Chlorhexidine-based antisepsis is commonly recommended for
central-line skin preparation because of its broad antimicrobial activity and
persistent effect.
9. A nurse notices that a sterile package has become wet on the outside. How
should the package be handled?
A. Use it immediately
B. Dry it with a sterile towel
C. Consider it contaminated and replace it
D. Open it only after notifying the charge nurse
Answer: Consider it contaminated and replace it
Code: NUR-IPC | 100-Question
Advanced Practice Exam 2026 |
Questions & Answers with Detailed
Rationales | Complete Exam Prep &
Study Guide
1. A nurse enters the room of a patient with suspected Clostridioides difficile
infection. Which action is most appropriate before providing direct patient
care?
A. Don an N95 respirator
B. Perform hand hygiene and don gloves and a gown
C. Wear a surgical mask only
D. Use alcohol-based hand sanitizer and enter without PPE
Answer: Perform hand hygiene and don gloves and a gown
Rationale: Contact precautions are indicated for suspected or confirmed C.
difficile. Gloves and gowns should be donned before entering the patient's care
,environment. Soap-and-water hand hygiene is preferred after caring for a
patient with C. difficile because alcohol-based products do not reliably eliminate
spores.
2. A nurse sustains a needlestick injury immediately after administering an
injection. What should the nurse do first?
A. Complete an incident report
B. Apply a sterile dressing
C. Wash the area immediately with soap and water
D. Wait for the patient's laboratory results
Answer: Wash the area immediately with soap and water
Rationale: Immediate cleansing is the first response after a percutaneous
exposure. The exposure should then be reported promptly so risk assessment,
source-patient evaluation, and appropriate post-exposure management can
occur.
3. Which intervention is most effective for preventing transmission of
healthcare-associated infections?
A. Wearing gloves for every patient interaction
B. Performing appropriate hand hygiene
C. Administering prophylactic antibiotics
D. Using sterile gloves for routine care
Answer: Performing appropriate hand hygiene
Rationale: Hand hygiene is one of the most effective measures for interrupting
transmission of microorganisms in healthcare settings. Gloves do not replace
hand hygiene.
4. A nurse is caring for a patient with pulmonary tuberculosis. Which
respiratory protection is required?
A. Surgical mask
B. Face shield
,C. Fit-tested N95 respirator or equivalent
D. Standard procedure mask
Answer: Fit-tested N95 respirator or equivalent
Rationale: Tuberculosis is transmitted through airborne particles. Appropriate
respiratory protection includes a fit-tested N95 respirator or a higher-level
respirator according to facility policy.
5. A patient with influenza is admitted to a medical unit. Which precautions
are generally required?
A. Airborne precautions only
B. Droplet precautions with standard precautions
C. Contact precautions only
D. Protective isolation
Answer: Droplet precautions with standard precautions
Rationale: Seasonal influenza is primarily transmitted through respiratory
droplets. Standard precautions remain applicable, with additional droplet
precautions according to institutional policy.
6. Which microorganism is particularly associated with healthcare-associated
infections involving indwelling urinary catheters?
A. Candida auris only
B. Escherichia coli and other enteric organisms
C. Mycobacterium tuberculosis
D. Bordetella pertussis
Answer: Escherichia coli and other enteric organisms
Rationale: Catheter-associated urinary tract infections commonly involve
organisms from the patient's gastrointestinal or perineal flora, including E. coli.
Limiting catheter use and maintaining a closed drainage system are important
preventive measures.
, 7. A nurse is preparing to insert a central venous catheter. Which intervention
is most important for reducing catheter-related bloodstream infection?
A. Wearing clean gloves only
B. Using maximal sterile barrier precautions
C. Applying antibiotic ointment to the insertion site routinely
D. Changing the catheter every 24 hours
Answer: Using maximal sterile barrier precautions
Rationale: Maximal sterile barrier precautions during central venous catheter
insertion reduce bloodstream infection risk. These include appropriate sterile
gown, gloves, cap, mask, and a large sterile drape.
8. Which antiseptic is generally preferred for skin preparation before central
venous catheter insertion when there is no contraindication?
A. Sterile water
B. Chlorhexidine-based preparation
C. Hydrogen peroxide
D. Normal saline
Answer: Chlorhexidine-based preparation
Rationale: Chlorhexidine-based antisepsis is commonly recommended for
central-line skin preparation because of its broad antimicrobial activity and
persistent effect.
9. A nurse notices that a sterile package has become wet on the outside. How
should the package be handled?
A. Use it immediately
B. Dry it with a sterile towel
C. Consider it contaminated and replace it
D. Open it only after notifying the charge nurse
Answer: Consider it contaminated and replace it
