AND ANSWERS 2025
A nurse is working at a health fair that is offering blood screenings for diabetes and high
cholesterol. What level of health promotion is she helping to achieve? - CORRECT
ANSWER Secondary prevention. This level of prevention aims for early detection of a
disease that already exists. So you would already have the diabetes and not know it yet;
a blood test would detect this early.
The chain of infection has 5 variables. The infectious agent (the virus/bacteria), the
resovoir (phones, bathrooms, door handles, water, plants and animals), the portal of exit
(mouth, eyes, sneezing etc), mode of transmission (touch, kissing, sexually
transmitted), and portal of exit (same as someone else's portal of exit). As a nurse, you
should think of yourself as what variable of this process? - CORRECT ANSWER
The mode of transmission. That's why we practice things such as clean technique and
surgical asepsis: we can very well be a mode of transmission from one patient to
another.
Mode of transmission is also things like kissing, sexually, touching etc
There are two types of bacteria: aerobic and anaerobic. Which is harder to kill and why?
- CORRECT ANSWER Anaerobic. Since they don't need oxygen, these bacteria
usually lie deep within the brain or other hard to reach areas, therefore it makes them
harder to kill.
How do we tell the difference between gram positive and gram negative bacteria on a
stain? - CORRECT ANSWER Gram positive stains purple, has a thick wall, and
don't decolorize. Gram negative have a complex wall and can be decolorized.
Think positive = purple
What are the smallest types of pathogens? - CORRECT ANSWER virus
There is some bacteria that peacefully lives in our body normally. These types of
bacteria are referred to as... - CORRECT ANSWER resident flora
ex: e.coli in intestines
Give some examples of direct transmission. - CORRECT ANSWER Kissing,
touching, sexual contact
, What are the three types of indirect transmission and how do they differ? - CORRECT
ANSWER Vehicle: inanimate (food, water, dust, instruments, meds)
Vector: animate; transmits from one host directly to another. (mosquitos, rodents, etc)
Airborne/Droplet: ventilation system, respiratory tract
Briefly explain the immune response defense mechanism. - CORRECT ANSWER
recognition of foreign material (antigen) by the body. The body then produces
antibodies to fight the antigen, WBC destroy antigen cells. Poor immune response = inc.
risk for infection!
What is the difference between infection and inflammation? - CORRECT ANSWER
Inflammation is the body's protective and reparative response to some type of illness or
injury. Infection is the actual disease taking place in the body.
What are the 4 stages of infection? describe them - CORRECT ANSWER
incubation: when the virus enters the body (hours to months)
prodromal: when you first start to feel symptoms (MOST INFECTIOUS STAGE)
illness: specific symptoms present, diagnosed
convalescence: from having the sickness to when normal health returns
What is the best way to control the spread of pathogens? - CORRECT ANSWER
hand washing
What's the difference between disinfection and sterilization? - CORRECT ANSWER
disinfection = clean technique. Destroys pathogens only
sterilization = type of surgical asepsis. free from living organisms and microorganisms
What's the difference between endogenous and exogenous sources? - CORRECT
ANSWER endo: comes from within the patient body. (skin, mucous
membranes/tracts)
exo: organisms that come from external sources. (surgical instruments, medical
devices, surgical team members, air)
What are nosocomial infections and what are the types? - CORRECT ANSWER
Nosocomial infections are hospital-inquired infections.
Exogenous source: hospital environment or personnel
Endogenous source: from pathogens pt. harbors himself
Iatrogenic source: as a result of treatment or procedure
The presence of specific signs and symptoms indicates what stage of illness:
A. convalescent
B. prodromal
C. illness