ATI SAFETY AND INFECTION CONTROL EXAM 2026/2027
COMPLETE EXAM QUESTIONS WITH VERIFIED ANSWERS
AND RATIONALES
1. A nurse is caring for a client who has a surgical wound infection
with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Which type
of transmission-based precaution should the nurse implement?
A. Airborne precautions
B. Droplet precautions
C. Contact precautions
D. Protective environment precautions
CORRECT ANSWER: C
Rationale: MRSA is transmitted through direct contact with infected skin
or contaminated surfaces. Contact precautions require a private room,
gloves, and gown for all interactions.
2. A nurse is preparing to administer medication through a client's
peripheral IV line. Which action demonstrates proper sterile
technique?
A. Clean the port with alcohol for 5 seconds before accessing
B. Touch the tip of the needle to the client's skin to check placement
C. Use clean gloves rather than sterile gloves for IV push medications
D. Scrub the hub with an alcohol swab for 15 seconds and allow to dry
CORRECT ANSWER: D
,Rationale: The hub should be scrubbed with alcohol for 15 seconds and
allowed to dry completely to reduce infection risk. Sterile gloves are
required for IV insertion but not necessarily for administration.
3. A nurse is caring for a client who requires protective environment
precautions. Which of the following interventions is appropriate?
A. Place the client in a room with positive air pressure
B. Place the client in a room with negative air pressure
C. Keep the client's door open to allow air circulation
D. Use an N95 respirator when entering the room
CORRECT ANSWER: A
Rationale: Protective environment precautions require positive air
pressure to prevent airborne pathogens from entering the room. This is
used for immunocompromised clients.
4. A nurse is caring for a client who is on contact precautions for a
wound infection. Which of the following actions should the nurse take
when leaving the room?
A. Remove gloves and gown inside the room
B. Remove gloves and gown in the hallway
C. Leave the gloves on while documenting
D. Remove gloves first, then the gown in the hallway
CORRECT ANSWER: A
Rationale: All PPE should be removed inside the client's room to contain
contaminants. Gloves are removed first, followed by the gown.
,5. A nurse is preparing a sterile field for a wound dressing change.
Which action would contaminate the sterile field?
A. Placing the sterile drape on a clean, dry surface
B. Opening sterile packages away from the body
C. Reaching over the sterile field to retrieve an item
D. Pouring sterile solution into a sterile container
CORRECT ANSWER: C
Rationale: Reaching over a sterile field contaminates it because non-
sterile objects (arms, clothing) shed microorganisms onto the field.
Always reach around the sterile field.
6. A nurse is caring for a client diagnosed with pertussis (whooping
cough). Which type of precaution is required?
A. Contact precautions
B. Droplet precautions
C. Airborne precautions
D. Standard precautions only
CORRECT ANSWER: B
Rationale: Pertussis is transmitted through large respiratory droplets
when coughing or sneezing. Droplet precautions require a surgical mask
within 3-6 feet.
, 7. A nurse is preparing to insert an indwelling urinary catheter. Which
step is essential for maintaining surgical aseptic technique?
A. Clean the meatus with antiseptic solution using a back-and-forth
motion
B. Use sterile gloves and sterile supplies throughout the procedure
C. Insert the catheter after lubricating with sterile water
D. Open the catheter package and place it on the clean bed
CORRECT ANSWER: B
Rationale: Indwelling catheter insertion requires surgical asepsis with
sterile gloves and supplies. The meatus should be cleaned using a
circular motion from the meatus outward.
8. A nurse notices a client's IV site is red, warm, and tender. What is
the priority nursing action?
A. Apply a warm compress
B. Document the findings
C. Discontinue the IV and restart at another site
D. Slow the infusion rate
CORRECT ANSWER: C
Rationale: Redness, warmth, and tenderness indicate phlebitis. The IV
should be discontinued immediately to prevent infection and
complications.
COMPLETE EXAM QUESTIONS WITH VERIFIED ANSWERS
AND RATIONALES
1. A nurse is caring for a client who has a surgical wound infection
with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Which type
of transmission-based precaution should the nurse implement?
A. Airborne precautions
B. Droplet precautions
C. Contact precautions
D. Protective environment precautions
CORRECT ANSWER: C
Rationale: MRSA is transmitted through direct contact with infected skin
or contaminated surfaces. Contact precautions require a private room,
gloves, and gown for all interactions.
2. A nurse is preparing to administer medication through a client's
peripheral IV line. Which action demonstrates proper sterile
technique?
A. Clean the port with alcohol for 5 seconds before accessing
B. Touch the tip of the needle to the client's skin to check placement
C. Use clean gloves rather than sterile gloves for IV push medications
D. Scrub the hub with an alcohol swab for 15 seconds and allow to dry
CORRECT ANSWER: D
,Rationale: The hub should be scrubbed with alcohol for 15 seconds and
allowed to dry completely to reduce infection risk. Sterile gloves are
required for IV insertion but not necessarily for administration.
3. A nurse is caring for a client who requires protective environment
precautions. Which of the following interventions is appropriate?
A. Place the client in a room with positive air pressure
B. Place the client in a room with negative air pressure
C. Keep the client's door open to allow air circulation
D. Use an N95 respirator when entering the room
CORRECT ANSWER: A
Rationale: Protective environment precautions require positive air
pressure to prevent airborne pathogens from entering the room. This is
used for immunocompromised clients.
4. A nurse is caring for a client who is on contact precautions for a
wound infection. Which of the following actions should the nurse take
when leaving the room?
A. Remove gloves and gown inside the room
B. Remove gloves and gown in the hallway
C. Leave the gloves on while documenting
D. Remove gloves first, then the gown in the hallway
CORRECT ANSWER: A
Rationale: All PPE should be removed inside the client's room to contain
contaminants. Gloves are removed first, followed by the gown.
,5. A nurse is preparing a sterile field for a wound dressing change.
Which action would contaminate the sterile field?
A. Placing the sterile drape on a clean, dry surface
B. Opening sterile packages away from the body
C. Reaching over the sterile field to retrieve an item
D. Pouring sterile solution into a sterile container
CORRECT ANSWER: C
Rationale: Reaching over a sterile field contaminates it because non-
sterile objects (arms, clothing) shed microorganisms onto the field.
Always reach around the sterile field.
6. A nurse is caring for a client diagnosed with pertussis (whooping
cough). Which type of precaution is required?
A. Contact precautions
B. Droplet precautions
C. Airborne precautions
D. Standard precautions only
CORRECT ANSWER: B
Rationale: Pertussis is transmitted through large respiratory droplets
when coughing or sneezing. Droplet precautions require a surgical mask
within 3-6 feet.
, 7. A nurse is preparing to insert an indwelling urinary catheter. Which
step is essential for maintaining surgical aseptic technique?
A. Clean the meatus with antiseptic solution using a back-and-forth
motion
B. Use sterile gloves and sterile supplies throughout the procedure
C. Insert the catheter after lubricating with sterile water
D. Open the catheter package and place it on the clean bed
CORRECT ANSWER: B
Rationale: Indwelling catheter insertion requires surgical asepsis with
sterile gloves and supplies. The meatus should be cleaned using a
circular motion from the meatus outward.
8. A nurse notices a client's IV site is red, warm, and tender. What is
the priority nursing action?
A. Apply a warm compress
B. Document the findings
C. Discontinue the IV and restart at another site
D. Slow the infusion rate
CORRECT ANSWER: C
Rationale: Redness, warmth, and tenderness indicate phlebitis. The IV
should be discontinued immediately to prevent infection and
complications.
