ATI RN Fundamentals: Infection
Prevention, Safety & Emergency
Response Review 2026 Exam
Infection Prevention & Standard Precautions
1. A nurse is preparing to enter the room of a client who has a
draining wound. Which action is appropriate before entering the
room?
A. Apply sterile gloves only
B. Perform hand hygiene and assess the need for PPE
C. Put on an N95 respirator
D. Wear shoe covers
Answer: B. Perform hand hygiene and assess the need for PPE
Rationale: Standard precautions require hand hygiene and selection
of PPE based on the anticipated exposure to blood, body fluids,
secretions, excretions, and contaminated materials.
2. Which action by a nurse is most effective for preventing
healthcare-associated infections?
A. Wearing gloves for every client interaction
B. Performing hand hygiene consistently
C. Using sterile equipment for all procedures
D. Restricting visitors
Answer: B. Performing hand hygiene consistently
Rationale: Hand hygiene is one of the most effective measures for
preventing transmission of microorganisms in healthcare settings.
,3. A nurse removes a pair of gloves after providing perineal care.
What should the nurse do next?
A. Apply another pair of gloves
B. Perform hand hygiene
C. Touch the client's bedside table
D. Document the procedure
Answer: B. Perform hand hygiene
Rationale: Gloves do not replace hand hygiene. Hands can become
contaminated during glove removal.
4. Which situation requires the nurse to wear a surgical mask?
A. Caring for a client requiring contact precautions
B. Caring for a client requiring droplet precautions
C. Emptying a urinary drainage bag
D. Measuring blood pressure
Answer: B. Caring for a client requiring droplet precautions
Rationale: Droplet precautions require a surgical mask when working
within the appropriate proximity of the client.
5. A nurse is caring for a client with suspected pulmonary
tuberculosis. Which PPE should the nurse use?
A. Surgical mask
B. N95 or equivalent respirator
C. Sterile gloves only
D. Face shield only
Answer: B. N95 or equivalent respirator
,Rationale: Tuberculosis is transmitted through airborne particles. An
appropriately fitted particulate respirator is required.
6. Which client should be placed on airborne precautions?
A. Client with influenza
B. Client with tuberculosis
C. Client with a draining wound
D. Client with Clostridioides difficile diarrhea
Answer: B. Client with tuberculosis
Rationale: Tuberculosis is transmitted through airborne particles and
requires airborne precautions.
7. A nurse is caring for a client with C. difficile infection. Which
hand hygiene method is especially important after care?
A. Alcohol-based hand rub only
B. Soap and water
C. Sterile water
D. Chlorhexidine without handwashing
Answer: B. Soap and water
Rationale: Soap and water are preferred after caring for clients with
C. difficile because alcohol-based products do not reliably remove
spores.
8. Which PPE should the nurse remove first when leaving a contact-
precautions room?
A. Gloves
B. Mask
, C. Goggles
D. Gown
Answer: A. Gloves
Rationale: Gloves are generally removed first because they are
usually the most contaminated item.
9. A nurse is preparing to administer an injection. Which action is
appropriate?
A. Reuse a syringe if the needle is changed
B. Use a new sterile syringe and needle
C. Place the used needle on the bedside table
D. Recap the needle using two hands
Answer: B. Use a new sterile syringe and needle
Rationale: Needles and syringes are single-use items and must never
be reused.
10. Which action reduces the risk of needlestick injuries?
A. Recapping needles with two hands
B. Carrying used needles to another room
C. Immediately placing used needles in a sharps container
D. Bending needles before disposal
Answer: C. Immediately placing used needles in a sharps container
Rationale: Sharps should be discarded immediately into an
appropriate puncture-resistant container.
11. A nurse sustains a needlestick injury. What is the priority
action?
Prevention, Safety & Emergency
Response Review 2026 Exam
Infection Prevention & Standard Precautions
1. A nurse is preparing to enter the room of a client who has a
draining wound. Which action is appropriate before entering the
room?
A. Apply sterile gloves only
B. Perform hand hygiene and assess the need for PPE
C. Put on an N95 respirator
D. Wear shoe covers
Answer: B. Perform hand hygiene and assess the need for PPE
Rationale: Standard precautions require hand hygiene and selection
of PPE based on the anticipated exposure to blood, body fluids,
secretions, excretions, and contaminated materials.
2. Which action by a nurse is most effective for preventing
healthcare-associated infections?
A. Wearing gloves for every client interaction
B. Performing hand hygiene consistently
C. Using sterile equipment for all procedures
D. Restricting visitors
Answer: B. Performing hand hygiene consistently
Rationale: Hand hygiene is one of the most effective measures for
preventing transmission of microorganisms in healthcare settings.
,3. A nurse removes a pair of gloves after providing perineal care.
What should the nurse do next?
A. Apply another pair of gloves
B. Perform hand hygiene
C. Touch the client's bedside table
D. Document the procedure
Answer: B. Perform hand hygiene
Rationale: Gloves do not replace hand hygiene. Hands can become
contaminated during glove removal.
4. Which situation requires the nurse to wear a surgical mask?
A. Caring for a client requiring contact precautions
B. Caring for a client requiring droplet precautions
C. Emptying a urinary drainage bag
D. Measuring blood pressure
Answer: B. Caring for a client requiring droplet precautions
Rationale: Droplet precautions require a surgical mask when working
within the appropriate proximity of the client.
5. A nurse is caring for a client with suspected pulmonary
tuberculosis. Which PPE should the nurse use?
A. Surgical mask
B. N95 or equivalent respirator
C. Sterile gloves only
D. Face shield only
Answer: B. N95 or equivalent respirator
,Rationale: Tuberculosis is transmitted through airborne particles. An
appropriately fitted particulate respirator is required.
6. Which client should be placed on airborne precautions?
A. Client with influenza
B. Client with tuberculosis
C. Client with a draining wound
D. Client with Clostridioides difficile diarrhea
Answer: B. Client with tuberculosis
Rationale: Tuberculosis is transmitted through airborne particles and
requires airborne precautions.
7. A nurse is caring for a client with C. difficile infection. Which
hand hygiene method is especially important after care?
A. Alcohol-based hand rub only
B. Soap and water
C. Sterile water
D. Chlorhexidine without handwashing
Answer: B. Soap and water
Rationale: Soap and water are preferred after caring for clients with
C. difficile because alcohol-based products do not reliably remove
spores.
8. Which PPE should the nurse remove first when leaving a contact-
precautions room?
A. Gloves
B. Mask
, C. Goggles
D. Gown
Answer: A. Gloves
Rationale: Gloves are generally removed first because they are
usually the most contaminated item.
9. A nurse is preparing to administer an injection. Which action is
appropriate?
A. Reuse a syringe if the needle is changed
B. Use a new sterile syringe and needle
C. Place the used needle on the bedside table
D. Recap the needle using two hands
Answer: B. Use a new sterile syringe and needle
Rationale: Needles and syringes are single-use items and must never
be reused.
10. Which action reduces the risk of needlestick injuries?
A. Recapping needles with two hands
B. Carrying used needles to another room
C. Immediately placing used needles in a sharps container
D. Bending needles before disposal
Answer: C. Immediately placing used needles in a sharps container
Rationale: Sharps should be discarded immediately into an
appropriate puncture-resistant container.
11. A nurse sustains a needlestick injury. What is the priority
action?
