NSG 300 EXAM 2 | FOUNDATIONS OF
NURSING — GCU 150 Original Practice
Questions with Correct Answers & Rationales
2026/2027 Exam Preparation
SECTION I — INFECTION CONTROL & ASEPSIS
Questions 1–25
1.
Which action is the most effective way for a nurse to reduce
transmission of microorganisms?
A. Wearing gloves for every patient interaction
B. Performing appropriate hand hygiene
C. Wearing a mask during every procedure
D. Administering prophylactic antibiotics
Correct Answer: B. Performing appropriate hand hygiene
Rationale: Hand hygiene is the single most important routine
measure for reducing transmission of healthcare-associated
microorganisms.
2.
Which situation requires hand hygiene?
A. Only after contact with a patient
B. Before and after patient contact and whenever contamination is
possible
,C. Only when gloves are unavailable
D. Only after using the restroom
Correct Answer: B. Before and after patient contact and
whenever contamination is possible
Rationale: Appropriate hand hygiene is required at multiple
points during care, including before patient contact, after patient
contact, and after contact with potentially contaminated material.
3.
A nurse removes gloves after providing wound care. What should the
nurse do next?
A. Immediately put on another pair of gloves
B. Perform hand hygiene
C. Touch the patient's chart first
D. Adjust the patient's IV
Correct Answer: B. Perform hand hygiene
Rationale: Gloves do not replace hand hygiene. Hands may
become contaminated during glove removal.
4.
Which practice contaminates a sterile field?
A. Keeping sterile items above waist level
B. Turning away from the sterile field
C. Opening a sterile package correctly
D. Using sterile gloves
,Correct Answer: B. Turning away from the sterile field
Rationale: A sterile field must remain continuously visible to the
person maintaining sterility. Turning away creates uncertainty
about contamination.
5.
A sterile item falls below the nurse's waist. What should the nurse do?
A. Return it to the sterile field
B. Consider it contaminated
C. Wipe it with alcohol
D. Use it only for nonsterile procedures
Correct Answer: B. Consider it contaminated
Rationale: Areas below waist level are considered outside the
sterile field. An item that falls there is contaminated.
6.
Which condition is associated with airborne transmission?
A. Tuberculosis
B. Clostridioides difficile
C. Impetigo
D. Wound infection only
Correct Answer: A. Tuberculosis
Rationale: Pulmonary tuberculosis requires airborne precautions
because infectious particles can remain suspended in the air.
, 7.
Which PPE is generally required for airborne precautions?
A. Gloves only
B. N95 respirator or equivalent appropriate respiratory protection
C. Surgical gown only
D. Shoe covers only
Correct Answer: B. N95 respirator or equivalent appropriate
respiratory protection
Rationale: Airborne precautions require respiratory protection
designed to filter airborne particles.
8.
Which disease commonly requires contact precautions?
A. C. difficile infection
B. Pulmonary tuberculosis
C. Measles
D. Varicella only
Correct Answer: A. C. difficile infection
Rationale: C. difficile spreads through spores and contaminated
surfaces, making contact precautions and appropriate hand
hygiene especially important.
9.
NURSING — GCU 150 Original Practice
Questions with Correct Answers & Rationales
2026/2027 Exam Preparation
SECTION I — INFECTION CONTROL & ASEPSIS
Questions 1–25
1.
Which action is the most effective way for a nurse to reduce
transmission of microorganisms?
A. Wearing gloves for every patient interaction
B. Performing appropriate hand hygiene
C. Wearing a mask during every procedure
D. Administering prophylactic antibiotics
Correct Answer: B. Performing appropriate hand hygiene
Rationale: Hand hygiene is the single most important routine
measure for reducing transmission of healthcare-associated
microorganisms.
2.
Which situation requires hand hygiene?
A. Only after contact with a patient
B. Before and after patient contact and whenever contamination is
possible
,C. Only when gloves are unavailable
D. Only after using the restroom
Correct Answer: B. Before and after patient contact and
whenever contamination is possible
Rationale: Appropriate hand hygiene is required at multiple
points during care, including before patient contact, after patient
contact, and after contact with potentially contaminated material.
3.
A nurse removes gloves after providing wound care. What should the
nurse do next?
A. Immediately put on another pair of gloves
B. Perform hand hygiene
C. Touch the patient's chart first
D. Adjust the patient's IV
Correct Answer: B. Perform hand hygiene
Rationale: Gloves do not replace hand hygiene. Hands may
become contaminated during glove removal.
4.
Which practice contaminates a sterile field?
A. Keeping sterile items above waist level
B. Turning away from the sterile field
C. Opening a sterile package correctly
D. Using sterile gloves
,Correct Answer: B. Turning away from the sterile field
Rationale: A sterile field must remain continuously visible to the
person maintaining sterility. Turning away creates uncertainty
about contamination.
5.
A sterile item falls below the nurse's waist. What should the nurse do?
A. Return it to the sterile field
B. Consider it contaminated
C. Wipe it with alcohol
D. Use it only for nonsterile procedures
Correct Answer: B. Consider it contaminated
Rationale: Areas below waist level are considered outside the
sterile field. An item that falls there is contaminated.
6.
Which condition is associated with airborne transmission?
A. Tuberculosis
B. Clostridioides difficile
C. Impetigo
D. Wound infection only
Correct Answer: A. Tuberculosis
Rationale: Pulmonary tuberculosis requires airborne precautions
because infectious particles can remain suspended in the air.
, 7.
Which PPE is generally required for airborne precautions?
A. Gloves only
B. N95 respirator or equivalent appropriate respiratory protection
C. Surgical gown only
D. Shoe covers only
Correct Answer: B. N95 respirator or equivalent appropriate
respiratory protection
Rationale: Airborne precautions require respiratory protection
designed to filter airborne particles.
8.
Which disease commonly requires contact precautions?
A. C. difficile infection
B. Pulmonary tuberculosis
C. Measles
D. Varicella only
Correct Answer: A. C. difficile infection
Rationale: C. difficile spreads through spores and contaminated
surfaces, making contact precautions and appropriate hand
hygiene especially important.
9.
