Nursing Fundamentals 2026 Safety Practice Test
Questions & Rationales: Infection Prevention,
Standard Precautions, Transmission-Based
Precautions, Errors, Falls, Medication Safety &
Clinical Review
SECTION 1: INFECTION PREVENTION & STANDARD PRECAUTIONS
(Questions 1–30)
Question 1
A nurse is preparing to care for a patient. Which action is the single most effective
way to prevent the spread of infection?
A. Wearing gloves for all patient contact
B. Performing hand hygiene before and after patient contact
C. Wearing a mask at all times
D. Isolating all patients with infections
Rationale: Hand hygiene is the single most effective method to prevent the spread
of infection. It should be performed before and after every patient contact,
regardless of glove use.
Question 2
A nurse is performing hand hygiene. Which action is correct when hands are
visibly soiled?
A. Use alcohol-based hand sanitizer
B. Wash hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds
C. Wipe hands with a paper towel
D. Use gloves without washing
,Rationale: When hands are visibly soiled or contaminated with blood/body fluids,
soap and water must be used for at least 20 seconds. Alcohol-based sanitizer is
ineffective on visibly soiled hands.
Question 3
A nurse is caring for a patient on standard precautions. Which PPE is required
when anticipating contact with blood or body fluids?
A. Gloves only
B. Gloves and gown if splashing is anticipated
C. Mask only
D. No PPE is required
Rationale: Standard precautions require gloves when touching blood, body fluids,
non-intact skin, or mucous membranes. A gown is added if splashing or spraying is
anticipated.
Question 4
A nurse is preparing to administer an injection. Which action prevents needlestick
injury?
A. Recap the needle after use
B. Dispose of the needle in a sharps container immediately after use
C. Bend the needle before disposal
D. Leave the needle on the tray for later disposal
Rationale: Needles should never be recapped, bent, or left unattended. They must
be disposed of immediately in a puncture-resistant sharps container.
Question 5
A nurse is caring for a patient with an indwelling urinary catheter. Which action
prevents catheter-associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI)?
,A. Irrigate the catheter daily
B. Perform perineal care daily and after bowel movements
C. Disconnect the catheter for ambulation
D. Keep the drainage bag above the bladder
Rationale: Daily perineal care and keeping the drainage bag below the bladder
prevent CAUTI. Disconnecting the catheter increases infection risk.
Question 6
A nurse is removing contaminated gloves. Which action is correct?
A. Pull gloves off by the fingertips
B. Remove gloves by grasping the outside of one glove and pulling downward
C. Reuse gloves between patients
D. Wash gloves with soap and water
Rationale: Gloves should be removed by grasping the outside of one glove and
pulling it off inside out, then sliding fingers under the other glove to remove it.
Gloves are never reused or washed.
Question 7
A nurse is caring for a patient with an IV site. Which finding indicates phlebitis?
A. Clear IV fluid infusing
B. Redness, warmth, and pain at the insertion site
C. Blood return present
D. Intact dressing
Rationale: Phlebitis is inflammation of the vein, manifested by redness, warmth,
pain, and swelling at the IV site.
, Question 8
A nurse is preparing to insert an IV catheter. Which action is correct?
A. Insert without cleansing the site
B. Cleanse the site with chlorhexidine and allow it to dry completely
C. Use an expired catheter
D. Skip hand hygiene
Rationale: Chlorhexidine is the preferred antiseptic for IV insertion. It must dry
completely to be effective.
Question 9
A nurse is performing sterile technique. Which action is correct?
A. Touch sterile items with bare hands
B. Keep the sterile field above waist level and in view at all times
C. Turn your back to the sterile field
D. Use expired sterile supplies
Rationale: The sterile field must remain above waist level and within the nurse's
view to prevent contamination.
Question 10
A nurse is caring for a patient with a surgical wound. Which finding indicates
infection?
A. Pink, moist wound bed
B. Purulent drainage, redness, and warmth
C. Scant serous drainage
D. Intact sutures
Rationale: Purulent drainage, redness, warmth, swelling, and pain indicate wound
infection.
Questions & Rationales: Infection Prevention,
Standard Precautions, Transmission-Based
Precautions, Errors, Falls, Medication Safety &
Clinical Review
SECTION 1: INFECTION PREVENTION & STANDARD PRECAUTIONS
(Questions 1–30)
Question 1
A nurse is preparing to care for a patient. Which action is the single most effective
way to prevent the spread of infection?
A. Wearing gloves for all patient contact
B. Performing hand hygiene before and after patient contact
C. Wearing a mask at all times
D. Isolating all patients with infections
Rationale: Hand hygiene is the single most effective method to prevent the spread
of infection. It should be performed before and after every patient contact,
regardless of glove use.
Question 2
A nurse is performing hand hygiene. Which action is correct when hands are
visibly soiled?
A. Use alcohol-based hand sanitizer
B. Wash hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds
C. Wipe hands with a paper towel
D. Use gloves without washing
,Rationale: When hands are visibly soiled or contaminated with blood/body fluids,
soap and water must be used for at least 20 seconds. Alcohol-based sanitizer is
ineffective on visibly soiled hands.
Question 3
A nurse is caring for a patient on standard precautions. Which PPE is required
when anticipating contact with blood or body fluids?
A. Gloves only
B. Gloves and gown if splashing is anticipated
C. Mask only
D. No PPE is required
Rationale: Standard precautions require gloves when touching blood, body fluids,
non-intact skin, or mucous membranes. A gown is added if splashing or spraying is
anticipated.
Question 4
A nurse is preparing to administer an injection. Which action prevents needlestick
injury?
A. Recap the needle after use
B. Dispose of the needle in a sharps container immediately after use
C. Bend the needle before disposal
D. Leave the needle on the tray for later disposal
Rationale: Needles should never be recapped, bent, or left unattended. They must
be disposed of immediately in a puncture-resistant sharps container.
Question 5
A nurse is caring for a patient with an indwelling urinary catheter. Which action
prevents catheter-associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI)?
,A. Irrigate the catheter daily
B. Perform perineal care daily and after bowel movements
C. Disconnect the catheter for ambulation
D. Keep the drainage bag above the bladder
Rationale: Daily perineal care and keeping the drainage bag below the bladder
prevent CAUTI. Disconnecting the catheter increases infection risk.
Question 6
A nurse is removing contaminated gloves. Which action is correct?
A. Pull gloves off by the fingertips
B. Remove gloves by grasping the outside of one glove and pulling downward
C. Reuse gloves between patients
D. Wash gloves with soap and water
Rationale: Gloves should be removed by grasping the outside of one glove and
pulling it off inside out, then sliding fingers under the other glove to remove it.
Gloves are never reused or washed.
Question 7
A nurse is caring for a patient with an IV site. Which finding indicates phlebitis?
A. Clear IV fluid infusing
B. Redness, warmth, and pain at the insertion site
C. Blood return present
D. Intact dressing
Rationale: Phlebitis is inflammation of the vein, manifested by redness, warmth,
pain, and swelling at the IV site.
, Question 8
A nurse is preparing to insert an IV catheter. Which action is correct?
A. Insert without cleansing the site
B. Cleanse the site with chlorhexidine and allow it to dry completely
C. Use an expired catheter
D. Skip hand hygiene
Rationale: Chlorhexidine is the preferred antiseptic for IV insertion. It must dry
completely to be effective.
Question 9
A nurse is performing sterile technique. Which action is correct?
A. Touch sterile items with bare hands
B. Keep the sterile field above waist level and in view at all times
C. Turn your back to the sterile field
D. Use expired sterile supplies
Rationale: The sterile field must remain above waist level and within the nurse's
view to prevent contamination.
Question 10
A nurse is caring for a patient with a surgical wound. Which finding indicates
infection?
A. Pink, moist wound bed
B. Purulent drainage, redness, and warmth
C. Scant serous drainage
D. Intact sutures
Rationale: Purulent drainage, redness, warmth, swelling, and pain indicate wound
infection.
