Nursing 354 Infection Prevention Exam
Questions And Correct Answers (Verified
Answers) Plus Rationales 2026 Q&A
Instant Download Pdf
1. Which action is the most effective method for preventing the transmission
of microorganisms in healthcare settings?
A. Wearing a surgical mask
B. Using sterile gloves for every patient
C. Performing hand hygiene consistently
D. Administering prophylactic antibiotics
Answer: Performing hand hygiene consistently
Rationale: Hand hygiene is the single most important measure for reducing the
transmission of microorganisms between patients and healthcare personnel.
2. When should a nurse perform hand hygiene with soap and water rather
than alcohol-based hand rub?
A. Before taking a blood pressure
B. After touching intact skin
C. When hands are visibly soiled
D. Before entering a patient's room
Answer: When hands are visibly soiled
,Rationale: Soap and water should be used when hands are visibly dirty or
contaminated with certain organisms such as Clostridioides difficile spores.
3. Which component of the chain of infection represents the route by which
an infectious organism leaves its reservoir?
A. Portal of entry
B. Portal of exit
C. Susceptible host
D. Mode of transmission
Answer: Portal of exit
Rationale: The portal of exit is the pathway through which microorganisms
leave their reservoir, such as respiratory secretions, blood, urine, or feces.
4. A nurse is caring for a patient with a respiratory infection. Which action
helps interrupt the mode of transmission?
A. Covering the patient's food
B. Using appropriate personal protective equipment
C. Increasing the patient's fluid intake
D. Monitoring the patient's temperature
Answer: Using appropriate personal protective equipment
Rationale: Appropriate personal protective equipment helps prevent
microorganisms from being transmitted from an infected person to others.
5. Which microorganism is classified as a bacterium?
A. Candida albicans
B. Influenza virus
C. Staphylococcus aureus
D. Giardia lamblia
Answer: Staphylococcus aureus
Rationale: Staphylococcus aureus is a bacterium commonly associated with skin
and wound infections.
, 6. Which type of infection is acquired during a healthcare encounter?
A. Community-acquired infection
B. Healthcare-associated infection
C. Congenital infection
D. Vector-borne infection
Answer: Healthcare-associated infection
Rationale: A healthcare-associated infection develops during or as a result of
receiving healthcare services and was not present or incubating at the time of
initial care.
7. Which practice is considered standard precaution for all patients?
A. Wearing an N95 respirator for every patient
B. Using gloves only for patients with known infections
C. Performing hand hygiene before and after patient contact
D. Placing every patient in a private room
Answer: Performing hand hygiene before and after patient contact
Rationale: Standard precautions apply to all patients regardless of their known
or suspected infection status.
8. A nurse is preparing to administer an injection. Which action is most
appropriate for infection prevention?
A. Reusing a syringe if the needle is changed
B. Using a new sterile needle and syringe
C. Cleaning the syringe with alcohol before reuse
D. Using the same syringe for multiple patients
Answer: Using a new sterile needle and syringe
Rationale: Needles and syringes are single-use items and must never be reused
between patients.
9. Which organism produces spores that can survive for prolonged periods in
the environment?
, A. Clostridioides difficile
B. Respiratory syncytial virus
C. Human immunodeficiency virus
D. Influenza virus
Answer: Clostridioides difficile
Rationale: Clostridioides difficile produces environmentally resistant spores that
require thorough cleaning and appropriate hand hygiene to reduce
transmission.
10.Which intervention is most appropriate when caring for a patient with
Clostridioides difficile infection?
A. Use alcohol-based hand rub exclusively
B. Use soap and water for hand hygiene
C. Place the patient on airborne precautions
D. Avoid environmental cleaning
Answer: Use soap and water for hand hygiene
Rationale: Soap and water physically remove Clostridioides difficile spores from
the hands; alcohol-based hand rubs are not reliably sporicidal.
11.Which personal protective equipment should the nurse wear when there is
a risk of blood splashing into the eyes?
A. Shoe covers only
B. Eye protection
C. Hair cover only
D. N95 respirator only
Answer: Eye protection
Rationale: Goggles or a face shield protect the mucous membranes of the eyes
from potentially infectious blood or body-fluid splashes.
12.What is the primary purpose of wearing gloves?
Questions And Correct Answers (Verified
Answers) Plus Rationales 2026 Q&A
Instant Download Pdf
1. Which action is the most effective method for preventing the transmission
of microorganisms in healthcare settings?
A. Wearing a surgical mask
B. Using sterile gloves for every patient
C. Performing hand hygiene consistently
D. Administering prophylactic antibiotics
Answer: Performing hand hygiene consistently
Rationale: Hand hygiene is the single most important measure for reducing the
transmission of microorganisms between patients and healthcare personnel.
2. When should a nurse perform hand hygiene with soap and water rather
than alcohol-based hand rub?
A. Before taking a blood pressure
B. After touching intact skin
C. When hands are visibly soiled
D. Before entering a patient's room
Answer: When hands are visibly soiled
,Rationale: Soap and water should be used when hands are visibly dirty or
contaminated with certain organisms such as Clostridioides difficile spores.
3. Which component of the chain of infection represents the route by which
an infectious organism leaves its reservoir?
A. Portal of entry
B. Portal of exit
C. Susceptible host
D. Mode of transmission
Answer: Portal of exit
Rationale: The portal of exit is the pathway through which microorganisms
leave their reservoir, such as respiratory secretions, blood, urine, or feces.
4. A nurse is caring for a patient with a respiratory infection. Which action
helps interrupt the mode of transmission?
A. Covering the patient's food
B. Using appropriate personal protective equipment
C. Increasing the patient's fluid intake
D. Monitoring the patient's temperature
Answer: Using appropriate personal protective equipment
Rationale: Appropriate personal protective equipment helps prevent
microorganisms from being transmitted from an infected person to others.
5. Which microorganism is classified as a bacterium?
A. Candida albicans
B. Influenza virus
C. Staphylococcus aureus
D. Giardia lamblia
Answer: Staphylococcus aureus
Rationale: Staphylococcus aureus is a bacterium commonly associated with skin
and wound infections.
, 6. Which type of infection is acquired during a healthcare encounter?
A. Community-acquired infection
B. Healthcare-associated infection
C. Congenital infection
D. Vector-borne infection
Answer: Healthcare-associated infection
Rationale: A healthcare-associated infection develops during or as a result of
receiving healthcare services and was not present or incubating at the time of
initial care.
7. Which practice is considered standard precaution for all patients?
A. Wearing an N95 respirator for every patient
B. Using gloves only for patients with known infections
C. Performing hand hygiene before and after patient contact
D. Placing every patient in a private room
Answer: Performing hand hygiene before and after patient contact
Rationale: Standard precautions apply to all patients regardless of their known
or suspected infection status.
8. A nurse is preparing to administer an injection. Which action is most
appropriate for infection prevention?
A. Reusing a syringe if the needle is changed
B. Using a new sterile needle and syringe
C. Cleaning the syringe with alcohol before reuse
D. Using the same syringe for multiple patients
Answer: Using a new sterile needle and syringe
Rationale: Needles and syringes are single-use items and must never be reused
between patients.
9. Which organism produces spores that can survive for prolonged periods in
the environment?
, A. Clostridioides difficile
B. Respiratory syncytial virus
C. Human immunodeficiency virus
D. Influenza virus
Answer: Clostridioides difficile
Rationale: Clostridioides difficile produces environmentally resistant spores that
require thorough cleaning and appropriate hand hygiene to reduce
transmission.
10.Which intervention is most appropriate when caring for a patient with
Clostridioides difficile infection?
A. Use alcohol-based hand rub exclusively
B. Use soap and water for hand hygiene
C. Place the patient on airborne precautions
D. Avoid environmental cleaning
Answer: Use soap and water for hand hygiene
Rationale: Soap and water physically remove Clostridioides difficile spores from
the hands; alcohol-based hand rubs are not reliably sporicidal.
11.Which personal protective equipment should the nurse wear when there is
a risk of blood splashing into the eyes?
A. Shoe covers only
B. Eye protection
C. Hair cover only
D. N95 respirator only
Answer: Eye protection
Rationale: Goggles or a face shield protect the mucous membranes of the eyes
from potentially infectious blood or body-fluid splashes.
12.What is the primary purpose of wearing gloves?
