HYGIENE TEST BANK EXAM
QUESTIONS WITH COMPLETE
ANSWERS
22. The nurse is providing oral care to an unconscious patient. Which action should
the nurse take?
a. Moisten the mouth using lemon-glycerin sponges.
b. Hold the patient's mouth open with gloved fingers.
c. Use foam swabs to help remove plaque.
d. Suction the oral cavity. - Answer-ANS: D
When providing oral hygiene to an unconscious patient, the nurse needs to protect
him or her from choking and aspiration. Have two nurses provide care; one nurse
does the actual cleaning, and the other caregiver removes secretions with suction
equipment. The nurse can delegate nursing assistive personnel to participate. Some
agencies use equipment that combines a mouth swab with the suction device. This
device can be used safely by one nurse to provide oral care. Commercially made
foam swabs are ineffective in removing plaque. Do not use lemon-glycerin sponges
because they dry mucous membranes and erode tooth enamel. While cleansing the
oral cavity, use a small oral airway or a padded tongue blade to hold the mouth
open. Never use your fingers to hold the patient's mouth open. A human bite
contains multiple pathogenic microorganisms.
23. The nurse is teaching the patient about flossing and oral hygiene. Which
instruction will the nurse include in the teaching session?
a. Using waxed floss prevents bleeding.
b. Flossing removes plaque and tartar from the teeth.
c. Performing flossing at least 3 times a day is beneficial.
d. Applying toothpaste to the teeth before flossing is harmful. - Answer-ANS: B
Dental flossing removes plaque and tartar between teeth. To prevent bleeding, the
patient should use unwaxed floss. Flossing once a day is sufficient. If toothpaste is
applied to the teeth before flossing, fluoride will come in direct contact with tooth
surfaces, aiding in cavity prevention
24. The nurse is teaching the parents of a child who has head lice (pediculosis
capitis). Which information will the nurse include in the teaching session?
a. Treatment is use of regular shampoo.
b. Products containing lindane are most effective.
c. Head lice may spread to furniture and other people.
d. Manual removal is not a realistic option as treatment. - Answer-ANS: C
Head lice are difficult to remove and spread to furniture and other people if not
treated. Caution against use of products containing lindane because the ingredient is
toxic and is known to cause adverse reactions. Treatments use medicated shampoo
for eliminating lice. Manual removal is the best option when treatment has failed.
25. A patient has scaling of the scalp. Which term will the nurse use to report this
finding to the oncoming staff?
, a. Dandruff
b. Alopecia
c. Pediculosis
d. Xerostomia - Answer-ANS: A
Dandruff is scaling of the scalp that is accompanied by itching. Pediculosis (lice
infestation) resides on scalp attached to hair strands; eggs look like oval particles,
similar to dandruff. Alopecia is hair loss or balding. Xerostomia is dry mouth.
26. A nurse is providing a bath. In which order will the nurse clean the body,
beginning with the first area?
1. Face
2. Eyes
3. Perineum
4. Arm and chest
5. Hands and nails
6. Back and buttocks
7. Abdomen and legs
a. 1, 2, 5, 4, 7, 6, 3
b. 2, 1, 4, 5, 7, 3, 6
c. 2, 1, 5, 4, 6, 7, 3
d. 1, 2, 4, 5, 3, 7, 6 - Answer-ANS: B
The sequence for giving a bath is as follows: eyes, face, both arms, chest,
hands/nails, abdomen, both legs, perineal hygiene, back, and buttocks/anus.
27. The nurse is caring for a patient who has multiple ticks on lower legs and body.
What should the nurse do to rid the patient of ticks?
a. Use blunt tweezers and pull upward with steady pressure.
b. Burn the ticks with a match or small lighter.
c. Allow the ticks to drop off by themselves.
d. Apply miconazole and cover with plastic. - Answer-ANS: A
Using blunt tweezers, grasp the tick as close to the head as possible and pull
upward with even, steady pressure. Hold until the tick pulls out, usually for about 3 to
4 minutes. Save the tick in a plastic bag, and put it in the freezer if necessary to
identify the type of tick. Because ticks transmit several diseases to people, they must
be removed. Allowing them to drop off by themselves is not an option. Do not burn
ticks off with a match or lighter. Miconazole is used to treat athlete's foot; it is a
fungal medication. Covering ticks with plastic does not remove ticks.
28. The nurse is providing oral care to a patient. In which order will the nurse clean
the oral cavity, starting with the first area?
1. Roof of mouth, gums, and inside cheek
2. Chewing and inner tooth surfaces
3. Outer tooth surfaces
4. Tongue
a. 4, 1, 3, 2
b. 3, 2, 4, 1
c. 2, 3, 1, 4
d. 1, 4, 2, 3 - Answer-ANS: C
Oral care is provided in the following sequence: Clean chewing and inner tooth
surfaces first. Clean outer tooth surfaces. Moisten brush with chlorhexidine rinse to
QUESTIONS WITH COMPLETE
ANSWERS
22. The nurse is providing oral care to an unconscious patient. Which action should
the nurse take?
a. Moisten the mouth using lemon-glycerin sponges.
b. Hold the patient's mouth open with gloved fingers.
c. Use foam swabs to help remove plaque.
d. Suction the oral cavity. - Answer-ANS: D
When providing oral hygiene to an unconscious patient, the nurse needs to protect
him or her from choking and aspiration. Have two nurses provide care; one nurse
does the actual cleaning, and the other caregiver removes secretions with suction
equipment. The nurse can delegate nursing assistive personnel to participate. Some
agencies use equipment that combines a mouth swab with the suction device. This
device can be used safely by one nurse to provide oral care. Commercially made
foam swabs are ineffective in removing plaque. Do not use lemon-glycerin sponges
because they dry mucous membranes and erode tooth enamel. While cleansing the
oral cavity, use a small oral airway or a padded tongue blade to hold the mouth
open. Never use your fingers to hold the patient's mouth open. A human bite
contains multiple pathogenic microorganisms.
23. The nurse is teaching the patient about flossing and oral hygiene. Which
instruction will the nurse include in the teaching session?
a. Using waxed floss prevents bleeding.
b. Flossing removes plaque and tartar from the teeth.
c. Performing flossing at least 3 times a day is beneficial.
d. Applying toothpaste to the teeth before flossing is harmful. - Answer-ANS: B
Dental flossing removes plaque and tartar between teeth. To prevent bleeding, the
patient should use unwaxed floss. Flossing once a day is sufficient. If toothpaste is
applied to the teeth before flossing, fluoride will come in direct contact with tooth
surfaces, aiding in cavity prevention
24. The nurse is teaching the parents of a child who has head lice (pediculosis
capitis). Which information will the nurse include in the teaching session?
a. Treatment is use of regular shampoo.
b. Products containing lindane are most effective.
c. Head lice may spread to furniture and other people.
d. Manual removal is not a realistic option as treatment. - Answer-ANS: C
Head lice are difficult to remove and spread to furniture and other people if not
treated. Caution against use of products containing lindane because the ingredient is
toxic and is known to cause adverse reactions. Treatments use medicated shampoo
for eliminating lice. Manual removal is the best option when treatment has failed.
25. A patient has scaling of the scalp. Which term will the nurse use to report this
finding to the oncoming staff?
, a. Dandruff
b. Alopecia
c. Pediculosis
d. Xerostomia - Answer-ANS: A
Dandruff is scaling of the scalp that is accompanied by itching. Pediculosis (lice
infestation) resides on scalp attached to hair strands; eggs look like oval particles,
similar to dandruff. Alopecia is hair loss or balding. Xerostomia is dry mouth.
26. A nurse is providing a bath. In which order will the nurse clean the body,
beginning with the first area?
1. Face
2. Eyes
3. Perineum
4. Arm and chest
5. Hands and nails
6. Back and buttocks
7. Abdomen and legs
a. 1, 2, 5, 4, 7, 6, 3
b. 2, 1, 4, 5, 7, 3, 6
c. 2, 1, 5, 4, 6, 7, 3
d. 1, 2, 4, 5, 3, 7, 6 - Answer-ANS: B
The sequence for giving a bath is as follows: eyes, face, both arms, chest,
hands/nails, abdomen, both legs, perineal hygiene, back, and buttocks/anus.
27. The nurse is caring for a patient who has multiple ticks on lower legs and body.
What should the nurse do to rid the patient of ticks?
a. Use blunt tweezers and pull upward with steady pressure.
b. Burn the ticks with a match or small lighter.
c. Allow the ticks to drop off by themselves.
d. Apply miconazole and cover with plastic. - Answer-ANS: A
Using blunt tweezers, grasp the tick as close to the head as possible and pull
upward with even, steady pressure. Hold until the tick pulls out, usually for about 3 to
4 minutes. Save the tick in a plastic bag, and put it in the freezer if necessary to
identify the type of tick. Because ticks transmit several diseases to people, they must
be removed. Allowing them to drop off by themselves is not an option. Do not burn
ticks off with a match or lighter. Miconazole is used to treat athlete's foot; it is a
fungal medication. Covering ticks with plastic does not remove ticks.
28. The nurse is providing oral care to a patient. In which order will the nurse clean
the oral cavity, starting with the first area?
1. Roof of mouth, gums, and inside cheek
2. Chewing and inner tooth surfaces
3. Outer tooth surfaces
4. Tongue
a. 4, 1, 3, 2
b. 3, 2, 4, 1
c. 2, 3, 1, 4
d. 1, 4, 2, 3 - Answer-ANS: C
Oral care is provided in the following sequence: Clean chewing and inner tooth
surfaces first. Clean outer tooth surfaces. Moisten brush with chlorhexidine rinse to
