BSN-206 Infection Control Final Quiz (Remotely Proctored) Exam |
Latest 2026/2027 Update | Actual Questions & Verified Answers with
Detailed Rationales | Comprehensive Final Exam Review | High-
Yield PDF Study Guide
1. When the nurse performs a procedure using sterile technique in the client's unit, it means that:
A. the equipment and supplies used are disposable and clean.
B. the nurse will do a 10-minute surgical scrub before beginning the procedure.
C. the nurse will be required to don a sterile gown, mask, and eye shields.
D. all organisms have been killed or removed from materials that come in contact with the client.
✓ Correct Answer: D. all organisms have been killed or removed from materials that come in contact
with the client. – Sterile technique means the complete absence of all microorganisms, including
spores, from supplies that contact the client.
2. Health personnel should wash their hands with soap and water at the beginning of the shift for:
A. 10 seconds
B. 2 minutes
C. 15 seconds
D. 1 minute
✓ Correct Answer: C. 15 seconds – The CDC recommends routine handwashing with soap and water
for at least 15-20 seconds to effectively remove transient microorganisms.
3. Which of the following are symptoms of a systemic infection? (Select all that apply.)
A. Nausea and vomiting.
B. Fever.
C. Redness.
D. Edema.
E. Fatigue.
F. Pain or tenderness.
✓ Correct Answer: A, B, E. Nausea and vomiting, Fever, Fatigue – Systemic infection affects the
whole body with fever, fatigue, nausea, chills, and malaise, unlike redness, edema, and pain which
are localized signs of inflammation.
4. The nurse is observing the UAP perform hand washing. During which step should the nurse
intervene and provide further instruction?
A. The UAP wets his hands and wrists thoroughly under the running water.
B. The UAP applies soap to his hands.
C. The UAP keeps his hands and forearms higher than the elbows during washing.
D. The UAP rubs his hands together using friction for 15 seconds.
✓ Correct Answer: C. The UAP keeps his hands and forearms higher than the elbows during
washing. – Hands and forearms must be kept lower than the elbows to allow contaminated water to
flow away from the cleanest area (hands).
,5. A client was hospitalized for surgical repair of a fractured hip. Upon admission her lungs were
clear and she was afebrile. She developed fever and respiratory distress with confirmed
pneumonia. Which type of infection best describes this?
A. A health care-associated infection.
B. A drug-resistant infection.
C. A local infection.
D. A systemic infection.
✓ Correct Answer: A. A health care-associated infection. – This pneumonia developed after
hospitalization with no evidence of infection on admission, meeting the definition of a healthcare-
associated (nosocomial) infection.
6. Which of the following clients are at risk for developing an infection? (Select all that apply.)
A. A client in a private room.
B. A client receiving chemotherapy.
C. A client with a chronic respiratory disease receiving steroid therapy.
D. A client who has an early discharge from the hospital.
E. A client with an IV.
✓ Correct Answer: B, C, E. A client receiving chemotherapy, A client with a chronic respiratory
disease receiving steroid therapy, A client with an IV. – Chemotherapy causes neutropenia,
steroids suppress immunity, and IV lines breach the skin barrier, all increasing infection risk.
7. A client has a diagnosis of Clostridium difficile. What is most important for the nurse to
convey to the UAP regarding this client's care?
A. To use an alcohol-based hand rub after removing gloves.
B. To wash hands with soap and water before and after caring for clients with C. difficile.
C. To avoid caring for other clients with C. difficile to prevent cross contamination.
D. To wear an N95 mask when in the client's room.
✓ Correct Answer: B. To wash hands with soap and water before and after caring for clients with C.
difficile. – C. difficile spores are not killed by alcohol-based hand rubs; only mechanical washing
with soap and water removes them.
8. When are sterile gloves necessary?
A. If the client is placed on isolation.
B. When performing postmortem care.
C. If blood or body fluids are present.
D. When performing a sterile procedure.
✓ Correct Answer: D. When performing a sterile procedure. – Sterile gloves are required only for
sterile procedures (catheterization, central line insertion, surgery) to maintain the sterility of the
field.
9. The nurse is aware that the first barrier to pathogen invasion is the:
A. skin.
B. immunizations.
C. immune response.
D. good hygiene.
, ✓ Correct Answer: A. skin. – Intact skin provides the body's first physical and chemical barrier against
pathogen entry.
10. The client reports an allergy to latex. What alterations should be made in the client's care?
(Select all that apply.)
A. Remove items that contain latex in the care of the client.
B. Avoid wearing gloves unless absolutely necessary and only for short periods.
C. Avoid use of alcohol-based hand rubs.
D. Use latex-free or synthetic gloves when gloves are necessary.
E. Determine whether syringes, IV tubing, and catheters contain latex.
F. Have a nurse who is also allergic to latex provide the client's care.
✓ Correct Answer: A, D, E. Remove items that contain latex, Use latex-free or synthetic gloves,
Determine whether syringes/IV tubing/catheters contain latex. – Latex-allergic clients require a
latex-safe environment with latex-free gloves and equipment checked for latex content.
11. When the client is diagnosed with pertussis, which isolation precaution should the nurse
implement?
A. Airborne
B. Droplet
C. Protective
D. Contact
✓ Correct Answer: B. Droplet – Pertussis (whooping cough) is transmitted by respiratory droplets,
requiring droplet precautions with a surgical mask within 3 feet of the client.
12. The nurse is reviewing with the surgical technician how to prepare a sterile field. Which of
the following should be included in the discussion? (Select all that apply.)
A. When using a sterile drape, position the bottom half of the sterile drape over the top of the
intended sterile field.
B. If there is any question or doubt of an item's sterility, the item is considered to be nonsterile.
C. When preparing a sterile field, unwrap the commercial tray by beginning with the outermost
flap and unfolding it in the direction away from the sterile kit toward the top of what will be the
sterile field.
D. When using a sterile barrier, touch only the outer 2 inches (5 cm) of the border because this is
considered nonsterile.
E. When pouring a solution, if some spills onto the sterile barrier, cover the spill with sterile
gauze.
✓ Correct Answer: A, B, C. Drape bottom half over top, doubt = nonsterile, unwrap outermost flap first
away from kit. – Proper sterile field technique requires draping bottom half over top, considering
any questionable item nonsterile, and opening the outermost flap away from the kit first.
13. To apply sterile gloves, the nurse applied the first glove on the right hand. Where should the
nurse pick up the remaining glove?
A. Anywhere, because the entire glove is sterile.
B. At the top edge of the cuff.
C. Underneath the second glove's cuff.
D. You should pick it up with your ungloved hand.
Latest 2026/2027 Update | Actual Questions & Verified Answers with
Detailed Rationales | Comprehensive Final Exam Review | High-
Yield PDF Study Guide
1. When the nurse performs a procedure using sterile technique in the client's unit, it means that:
A. the equipment and supplies used are disposable and clean.
B. the nurse will do a 10-minute surgical scrub before beginning the procedure.
C. the nurse will be required to don a sterile gown, mask, and eye shields.
D. all organisms have been killed or removed from materials that come in contact with the client.
✓ Correct Answer: D. all organisms have been killed or removed from materials that come in contact
with the client. – Sterile technique means the complete absence of all microorganisms, including
spores, from supplies that contact the client.
2. Health personnel should wash their hands with soap and water at the beginning of the shift for:
A. 10 seconds
B. 2 minutes
C. 15 seconds
D. 1 minute
✓ Correct Answer: C. 15 seconds – The CDC recommends routine handwashing with soap and water
for at least 15-20 seconds to effectively remove transient microorganisms.
3. Which of the following are symptoms of a systemic infection? (Select all that apply.)
A. Nausea and vomiting.
B. Fever.
C. Redness.
D. Edema.
E. Fatigue.
F. Pain or tenderness.
✓ Correct Answer: A, B, E. Nausea and vomiting, Fever, Fatigue – Systemic infection affects the
whole body with fever, fatigue, nausea, chills, and malaise, unlike redness, edema, and pain which
are localized signs of inflammation.
4. The nurse is observing the UAP perform hand washing. During which step should the nurse
intervene and provide further instruction?
A. The UAP wets his hands and wrists thoroughly under the running water.
B. The UAP applies soap to his hands.
C. The UAP keeps his hands and forearms higher than the elbows during washing.
D. The UAP rubs his hands together using friction for 15 seconds.
✓ Correct Answer: C. The UAP keeps his hands and forearms higher than the elbows during
washing. – Hands and forearms must be kept lower than the elbows to allow contaminated water to
flow away from the cleanest area (hands).
,5. A client was hospitalized for surgical repair of a fractured hip. Upon admission her lungs were
clear and she was afebrile. She developed fever and respiratory distress with confirmed
pneumonia. Which type of infection best describes this?
A. A health care-associated infection.
B. A drug-resistant infection.
C. A local infection.
D. A systemic infection.
✓ Correct Answer: A. A health care-associated infection. – This pneumonia developed after
hospitalization with no evidence of infection on admission, meeting the definition of a healthcare-
associated (nosocomial) infection.
6. Which of the following clients are at risk for developing an infection? (Select all that apply.)
A. A client in a private room.
B. A client receiving chemotherapy.
C. A client with a chronic respiratory disease receiving steroid therapy.
D. A client who has an early discharge from the hospital.
E. A client with an IV.
✓ Correct Answer: B, C, E. A client receiving chemotherapy, A client with a chronic respiratory
disease receiving steroid therapy, A client with an IV. – Chemotherapy causes neutropenia,
steroids suppress immunity, and IV lines breach the skin barrier, all increasing infection risk.
7. A client has a diagnosis of Clostridium difficile. What is most important for the nurse to
convey to the UAP regarding this client's care?
A. To use an alcohol-based hand rub after removing gloves.
B. To wash hands with soap and water before and after caring for clients with C. difficile.
C. To avoid caring for other clients with C. difficile to prevent cross contamination.
D. To wear an N95 mask when in the client's room.
✓ Correct Answer: B. To wash hands with soap and water before and after caring for clients with C.
difficile. – C. difficile spores are not killed by alcohol-based hand rubs; only mechanical washing
with soap and water removes them.
8. When are sterile gloves necessary?
A. If the client is placed on isolation.
B. When performing postmortem care.
C. If blood or body fluids are present.
D. When performing a sterile procedure.
✓ Correct Answer: D. When performing a sterile procedure. – Sterile gloves are required only for
sterile procedures (catheterization, central line insertion, surgery) to maintain the sterility of the
field.
9. The nurse is aware that the first barrier to pathogen invasion is the:
A. skin.
B. immunizations.
C. immune response.
D. good hygiene.
, ✓ Correct Answer: A. skin. – Intact skin provides the body's first physical and chemical barrier against
pathogen entry.
10. The client reports an allergy to latex. What alterations should be made in the client's care?
(Select all that apply.)
A. Remove items that contain latex in the care of the client.
B. Avoid wearing gloves unless absolutely necessary and only for short periods.
C. Avoid use of alcohol-based hand rubs.
D. Use latex-free or synthetic gloves when gloves are necessary.
E. Determine whether syringes, IV tubing, and catheters contain latex.
F. Have a nurse who is also allergic to latex provide the client's care.
✓ Correct Answer: A, D, E. Remove items that contain latex, Use latex-free or synthetic gloves,
Determine whether syringes/IV tubing/catheters contain latex. – Latex-allergic clients require a
latex-safe environment with latex-free gloves and equipment checked for latex content.
11. When the client is diagnosed with pertussis, which isolation precaution should the nurse
implement?
A. Airborne
B. Droplet
C. Protective
D. Contact
✓ Correct Answer: B. Droplet – Pertussis (whooping cough) is transmitted by respiratory droplets,
requiring droplet precautions with a surgical mask within 3 feet of the client.
12. The nurse is reviewing with the surgical technician how to prepare a sterile field. Which of
the following should be included in the discussion? (Select all that apply.)
A. When using a sterile drape, position the bottom half of the sterile drape over the top of the
intended sterile field.
B. If there is any question or doubt of an item's sterility, the item is considered to be nonsterile.
C. When preparing a sterile field, unwrap the commercial tray by beginning with the outermost
flap and unfolding it in the direction away from the sterile kit toward the top of what will be the
sterile field.
D. When using a sterile barrier, touch only the outer 2 inches (5 cm) of the border because this is
considered nonsterile.
E. When pouring a solution, if some spills onto the sterile barrier, cover the spill with sterile
gauze.
✓ Correct Answer: A, B, C. Drape bottom half over top, doubt = nonsterile, unwrap outermost flap first
away from kit. – Proper sterile field technique requires draping bottom half over top, considering
any questionable item nonsterile, and opening the outermost flap away from the kit first.
13. To apply sterile gloves, the nurse applied the first glove on the right hand. Where should the
nurse pick up the remaining glove?
A. Anywhere, because the entire glove is sterile.
B. At the top edge of the cuff.
C. Underneath the second glove's cuff.
D. You should pick it up with your ungloved hand.
