2026 Fundamentals of Nursing Patient Safety &
Infection Control Study Guide: Practice
Questions, Answer Explanations, Isolation
Precautions, Falls Prevention, Sterile Technique
Review
SECTION 1: STANDARD PRECAUTIONS & HAND HYGIENE (Questions
1–20)
1. A nurse is preparing to care for a client. According to the CDC, which action is
the single most effective way to prevent the spread of infection?
A. Wearing gloves for all client contact
B. Performing hand hygiene
C. Wearing a mask at all times
D. Isolating all clients with infections
Rationale: Hand hygiene is the single most effective and most important measure
to prevent and control the transmission of infectious agents. It should be performed
before and after every patient contact, regardless of glove use.
2. A nurse is performing hand hygiene. Which action demonstrates correct
technique?
A. Washing hands for 5 seconds
B. Washing hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds
C. Using only water without soap
D. Washing hands only after using the bathroom
Rationale: Hand washing should last at least 20 seconds with soap and water,
covering all surfaces of the hands and fingers, to effectively remove
microorganisms.
3. A nurse is caring for a client with Clostridioides difficile (C. diff). Which hand
hygiene method should the nurse use?
,A. Alcohol-based hand sanitizer
B. Soap and water
C. Either method is acceptable
D. No hand hygiene is needed with gloves
Rationale: Alcohol-based hand sanitizers are not effective against C. diff spores.
Soap and water must be used to physically remove the spores from the hands.
4. A nurse is preparing to don gloves. Which action is correct?
A. Perform hand hygiene before donning gloves
B. Don gloves without performing hand hygiene
C. Use the same gloves for multiple clients
D. Wash gloves with soap and water for reuse
Rationale: Hand hygiene should be performed before donning gloves and after
removing gloves. Gloves are single-use items and should never be reused or
washed.
5. A nurse is removing contaminated gloves. Which action is correct?
A. Remove gloves by pulling them off inside out and dispose in the proper
receptacle
B. Remove gloves by pulling them off from the fingertips
C. Reuse the gloves if they appear clean
D. Remove gloves and place them on the bedside table
Rationale: Gloves should be removed by pulling them off inside out to contain
contamination and disposed of in the proper receptacle. Hand hygiene should
follow.
6. A nurse is caring for a client on standard precautions. Which PPE is required
when anticipating contact with blood or body fluids?
A. Gloves only
B. Gloves, gown, mask, and eye protection as indicated
C. No PPE is required
D. Mask only
Rationale: Standard precautions require gloves for contact with blood or body
fluids. A gown, mask, and eye protection should be worn if splashes or sprays are
anticipated.
,7. A nurse is performing hand hygiene. Which area is most commonly missed?
A. Palms
B. Thumbs and fingertips
C. Back of hands
D. Wrists
Rationale: The thumbs, fingertips, and areas between the fingers are the most
commonly missed areas during hand hygiene.
8. A nurse is caring for a client who is immunocompromised. Which action is most
important to protect the client?
A. Perform hand hygiene before entering the room
B. Wear a mask at all times
C. Keep the door closed
D. Restrict all visitors
Rationale: Hand hygiene before entering the room is the most important action to
prevent the introduction of microorganisms to an immunocompromised client.
9. A nurse is using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer. Which action is correct?
A. Apply the product and rub hands together until dry
B. Wipe hands dry with a towel
C. Apply the product and rinse with water
D. Use the sanitizer only after washing hands
Rationale: Alcohol-based hand sanitizer should be applied to the palm and rubbed
over all surfaces of the hands until dry. It should not be wiped off or rinsed.
10. A nurse is caring for a client with a respiratory infection. Which action
demonstrates standard precautions?
A. Wearing a mask only when entering the room
B. Wearing a mask when within 3 feet of the client
C. Avoiding all contact with the client
D. Using a separate stethoscope for the client
Rationale: Standard precautions require a mask when within 3 feet of a client with
a respiratory infection, especially if droplets may be generated.
, 11. A nurse is teaching a client about hand hygiene. Which statement indicates
understanding?
A. "I will wash my hands for 5 seconds."
B. "I will wash my hands for at least 20 seconds with soap and water."
C. "I will only use hand sanitizer."
D. "I will wash my hands only after using the bathroom."
Rationale: Hand washing should last at least 20 seconds with soap and water to
effectively remove microorganisms.
12. A nurse is preparing to perform a procedure that may generate splashes. Which
PPE is required?
A. Gloves only
B. Gloves, gown, mask, and eye protection
C. Mask only
D. No PPE is required
Rationale: Procedures that may generate splashes require gloves, a gown, a mask,
and eye protection to protect mucous membranes and skin.
13. A nurse is caring for a client with an infected wound. Which action
demonstrates standard precautions?
A. Wearing gloves when changing the dressing
B. Wearing gloves only when the wound is draining
C. Avoiding contact with the wound
D. Using the same gloves for multiple dressing changes
Rationale: Standard precautions require wearing gloves when there is potential
contact with blood, body fluids, or contaminated items, including wound dressings.
14. A nurse is disposing of contaminated items. Which action is correct?
A. Place contaminated items in a biohazard bag
B. Place contaminated items in a regular trash can
C. Reuse contaminated items if they appear clean
D. Leave contaminated items on the bedside table
Rationale: Contaminated items should be placed in a biohazard bag for proper
disposal.
Infection Control Study Guide: Practice
Questions, Answer Explanations, Isolation
Precautions, Falls Prevention, Sterile Technique
Review
SECTION 1: STANDARD PRECAUTIONS & HAND HYGIENE (Questions
1–20)
1. A nurse is preparing to care for a client. According to the CDC, which action is
the single most effective way to prevent the spread of infection?
A. Wearing gloves for all client contact
B. Performing hand hygiene
C. Wearing a mask at all times
D. Isolating all clients with infections
Rationale: Hand hygiene is the single most effective and most important measure
to prevent and control the transmission of infectious agents. It should be performed
before and after every patient contact, regardless of glove use.
2. A nurse is performing hand hygiene. Which action demonstrates correct
technique?
A. Washing hands for 5 seconds
B. Washing hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds
C. Using only water without soap
D. Washing hands only after using the bathroom
Rationale: Hand washing should last at least 20 seconds with soap and water,
covering all surfaces of the hands and fingers, to effectively remove
microorganisms.
3. A nurse is caring for a client with Clostridioides difficile (C. diff). Which hand
hygiene method should the nurse use?
,A. Alcohol-based hand sanitizer
B. Soap and water
C. Either method is acceptable
D. No hand hygiene is needed with gloves
Rationale: Alcohol-based hand sanitizers are not effective against C. diff spores.
Soap and water must be used to physically remove the spores from the hands.
4. A nurse is preparing to don gloves. Which action is correct?
A. Perform hand hygiene before donning gloves
B. Don gloves without performing hand hygiene
C. Use the same gloves for multiple clients
D. Wash gloves with soap and water for reuse
Rationale: Hand hygiene should be performed before donning gloves and after
removing gloves. Gloves are single-use items and should never be reused or
washed.
5. A nurse is removing contaminated gloves. Which action is correct?
A. Remove gloves by pulling them off inside out and dispose in the proper
receptacle
B. Remove gloves by pulling them off from the fingertips
C. Reuse the gloves if they appear clean
D. Remove gloves and place them on the bedside table
Rationale: Gloves should be removed by pulling them off inside out to contain
contamination and disposed of in the proper receptacle. Hand hygiene should
follow.
6. A nurse is caring for a client on standard precautions. Which PPE is required
when anticipating contact with blood or body fluids?
A. Gloves only
B. Gloves, gown, mask, and eye protection as indicated
C. No PPE is required
D. Mask only
Rationale: Standard precautions require gloves for contact with blood or body
fluids. A gown, mask, and eye protection should be worn if splashes or sprays are
anticipated.
,7. A nurse is performing hand hygiene. Which area is most commonly missed?
A. Palms
B. Thumbs and fingertips
C. Back of hands
D. Wrists
Rationale: The thumbs, fingertips, and areas between the fingers are the most
commonly missed areas during hand hygiene.
8. A nurse is caring for a client who is immunocompromised. Which action is most
important to protect the client?
A. Perform hand hygiene before entering the room
B. Wear a mask at all times
C. Keep the door closed
D. Restrict all visitors
Rationale: Hand hygiene before entering the room is the most important action to
prevent the introduction of microorganisms to an immunocompromised client.
9. A nurse is using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer. Which action is correct?
A. Apply the product and rub hands together until dry
B. Wipe hands dry with a towel
C. Apply the product and rinse with water
D. Use the sanitizer only after washing hands
Rationale: Alcohol-based hand sanitizer should be applied to the palm and rubbed
over all surfaces of the hands until dry. It should not be wiped off or rinsed.
10. A nurse is caring for a client with a respiratory infection. Which action
demonstrates standard precautions?
A. Wearing a mask only when entering the room
B. Wearing a mask when within 3 feet of the client
C. Avoiding all contact with the client
D. Using a separate stethoscope for the client
Rationale: Standard precautions require a mask when within 3 feet of a client with
a respiratory infection, especially if droplets may be generated.
, 11. A nurse is teaching a client about hand hygiene. Which statement indicates
understanding?
A. "I will wash my hands for 5 seconds."
B. "I will wash my hands for at least 20 seconds with soap and water."
C. "I will only use hand sanitizer."
D. "I will wash my hands only after using the bathroom."
Rationale: Hand washing should last at least 20 seconds with soap and water to
effectively remove microorganisms.
12. A nurse is preparing to perform a procedure that may generate splashes. Which
PPE is required?
A. Gloves only
B. Gloves, gown, mask, and eye protection
C. Mask only
D. No PPE is required
Rationale: Procedures that may generate splashes require gloves, a gown, a mask,
and eye protection to protect mucous membranes and skin.
13. A nurse is caring for a client with an infected wound. Which action
demonstrates standard precautions?
A. Wearing gloves when changing the dressing
B. Wearing gloves only when the wound is draining
C. Avoiding contact with the wound
D. Using the same gloves for multiple dressing changes
Rationale: Standard precautions require wearing gloves when there is potential
contact with blood, body fluids, or contaminated items, including wound dressings.
14. A nurse is disposing of contaminated items. Which action is correct?
A. Place contaminated items in a biohazard bag
B. Place contaminated items in a regular trash can
C. Reuse contaminated items if they appear clean
D. Leave contaminated items on the bedside table
Rationale: Contaminated items should be placed in a biohazard bag for proper
disposal.
