NR 224 Fundamentals of Nursing
Safety and Infection Control Review
100 Practice Questions with Detailed
Rationales
1. A nurse is preparing to administer medications to a patient. Which action should the nurse
take first to ensure patient safety?
A. Review the patient's allergy history.
B. Verify the patient's identity using two approved identifiers.
C. Explain the purpose of each medication.
D. Assess the patient's vital signs.
Answer: B. Verify the patient's identity using two approved identifiers.
Rationale: Correct patient identification is the first step in preventing medication
errors. The Joint Commission recommends using at least two approved identifiers,
such as the patient's full name and date of birth or medical record number. Room
numbers should never be used as patient identifiers.
2. A nurse is caring for a patient who requires Contact Precautions due to methicillin-resistant
Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Which personal protective equipment (PPE) should the
nurse don before entering the patient's room?
A. Surgical mask and gloves
B. N95 respirator and gown
C. Gown and gloves
D. Face shield only
Answer: C. Gown and gloves
,Rationale: MRSA is primarily transmitted through direct and indirect contact.
Contact Precautions require healthcare personnel to wear a gown and gloves
upon entering the patient's room to prevent transmission to themselves and other
patients.
3. A nurse discovers a small fire in a patient's wastebasket. According to the RACE protocol,
what is the nurse's priority action?
A. Activate the fire alarm.
B. Rescue patients in immediate danger.
C. Extinguish the fire.
D. Close all doors and windows.
Answer: B. Rescue patients in immediate danger.
Rationale: The RACE fire response stands for Rescue, Alarm, Contain, and
Extinguish/Evacuate. The nurse's first priority is rescuing anyone in immediate
danger before activating the alarm or attempting to extinguish the fire.
4. Which patient should the nurse identify as being at the greatest risk for falls?
A. A 24-year-old recovering from a laparoscopic appendectomy.
B. A 45-year-old with seasonal allergies.
C. A 79-year-old receiving opioid pain medication after hip surgery.
D. A 38-year-old admitted for observation after a migraine.
Answer: C. A 79-year-old receiving opioid pain medication after hip surgery.
Rationale: Advanced age, recent surgery, impaired mobility, and opioid use
significantly increase the risk of falls. This patient has multiple fall-risk factors
requiring close monitoring and fall-prevention interventions.
5. A nurse is removing personal protective equipment (PPE) after caring for a patient on Contact
Precautions. Which item should generally be removed first?
A. Gown
B. Gloves
,C. Goggles
D. Surgical mask
Answer: B. Gloves
Rationale: Gloves are considered the most contaminated piece of PPE because they
come into direct contact with the patient and contaminated surfaces. They should
generally be removed first, followed by hand hygiene if indicated and the
remaining PPE according to facility policy.
6. A nurse enters a patient's room and finds the patient lying on the floor. What is the nurse's
priority action?
A. Assist the patient back into bed immediately.
B. Assess the patient for injuries and call for assistance.
C. Notify the healthcare provider.
D. Complete an incident report.
Answer: B. Assess the patient for injuries and call for assistance.
Rationale: The nurse's priority is to assess the patient's condition using the nursing
process and prevent further injury. The patient should not be moved until injuries
have been assessed unless immediate danger exists.
7. Which action best demonstrates proper hand hygiene using an alcohol-based hand rub?
A. Rub the hands together until they are completely dry.
B. Dry the hands with a paper towel after application.
C. Rinse the hands with warm water after use.
D. Use the sanitizer only when hands are visibly soiled.
Answer: A. Rub the hands together until they are completely dry.
Rationale: Alcohol-based hand rub should be applied to all hand surfaces and
rubbed until completely dry. It is recommended when hands are not visibly soiled
because it effectively reduces the number of microorganisms.
, 8. A nurse is caring for a patient with suspected pulmonary tuberculosis. Which type of isolation
precautions should be implemented?
A. Standard Precautions
B. Contact Precautions
C. Droplet Precautions
D. Airborne Precautions
Answer: D. Airborne Precautions
Rationale: Tuberculosis is transmitted through airborne droplet nuclei. Patients
should be placed in a negative-pressure room, and healthcare personnel should
wear a fit-tested N95 respirator.
9. Which nursing intervention is most effective in preventing healthcare-associated infections
(HAIs)?
A. Wearing gloves during all patient care activities.
B. Administering prophylactic antibiotics routinely.
C. Performing proper hand hygiene before and after patient contact.
D. Wearing a surgical mask throughout the entire shift.
Answer: C. Performing proper hand hygiene before and after patient contact.
Rationale: Hand hygiene remains the single most effective intervention for
preventing healthcare-associated infections by interrupting the transmission of
microorganisms between patients and healthcare workers.
10. A nurse is preparing to transfer a patient from the bed to a wheelchair. Which action
promotes patient safety?
A. Leave the wheelchair unlocked for easier movement.
B. Position the wheelchair several feet from the bed.
C. Lock the wheelchair brakes before the transfer.
D. Instruct the patient to stand without assistance.
Answer: C. Lock the wheelchair brakes before the transfer.
Rationale: Locking the wheelchair brakes prevents unexpected movement during
the transfer and significantly reduces the patient's risk of falling.
Safety and Infection Control Review
100 Practice Questions with Detailed
Rationales
1. A nurse is preparing to administer medications to a patient. Which action should the nurse
take first to ensure patient safety?
A. Review the patient's allergy history.
B. Verify the patient's identity using two approved identifiers.
C. Explain the purpose of each medication.
D. Assess the patient's vital signs.
Answer: B. Verify the patient's identity using two approved identifiers.
Rationale: Correct patient identification is the first step in preventing medication
errors. The Joint Commission recommends using at least two approved identifiers,
such as the patient's full name and date of birth or medical record number. Room
numbers should never be used as patient identifiers.
2. A nurse is caring for a patient who requires Contact Precautions due to methicillin-resistant
Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Which personal protective equipment (PPE) should the
nurse don before entering the patient's room?
A. Surgical mask and gloves
B. N95 respirator and gown
C. Gown and gloves
D. Face shield only
Answer: C. Gown and gloves
,Rationale: MRSA is primarily transmitted through direct and indirect contact.
Contact Precautions require healthcare personnel to wear a gown and gloves
upon entering the patient's room to prevent transmission to themselves and other
patients.
3. A nurse discovers a small fire in a patient's wastebasket. According to the RACE protocol,
what is the nurse's priority action?
A. Activate the fire alarm.
B. Rescue patients in immediate danger.
C. Extinguish the fire.
D. Close all doors and windows.
Answer: B. Rescue patients in immediate danger.
Rationale: The RACE fire response stands for Rescue, Alarm, Contain, and
Extinguish/Evacuate. The nurse's first priority is rescuing anyone in immediate
danger before activating the alarm or attempting to extinguish the fire.
4. Which patient should the nurse identify as being at the greatest risk for falls?
A. A 24-year-old recovering from a laparoscopic appendectomy.
B. A 45-year-old with seasonal allergies.
C. A 79-year-old receiving opioid pain medication after hip surgery.
D. A 38-year-old admitted for observation after a migraine.
Answer: C. A 79-year-old receiving opioid pain medication after hip surgery.
Rationale: Advanced age, recent surgery, impaired mobility, and opioid use
significantly increase the risk of falls. This patient has multiple fall-risk factors
requiring close monitoring and fall-prevention interventions.
5. A nurse is removing personal protective equipment (PPE) after caring for a patient on Contact
Precautions. Which item should generally be removed first?
A. Gown
B. Gloves
,C. Goggles
D. Surgical mask
Answer: B. Gloves
Rationale: Gloves are considered the most contaminated piece of PPE because they
come into direct contact with the patient and contaminated surfaces. They should
generally be removed first, followed by hand hygiene if indicated and the
remaining PPE according to facility policy.
6. A nurse enters a patient's room and finds the patient lying on the floor. What is the nurse's
priority action?
A. Assist the patient back into bed immediately.
B. Assess the patient for injuries and call for assistance.
C. Notify the healthcare provider.
D. Complete an incident report.
Answer: B. Assess the patient for injuries and call for assistance.
Rationale: The nurse's priority is to assess the patient's condition using the nursing
process and prevent further injury. The patient should not be moved until injuries
have been assessed unless immediate danger exists.
7. Which action best demonstrates proper hand hygiene using an alcohol-based hand rub?
A. Rub the hands together until they are completely dry.
B. Dry the hands with a paper towel after application.
C. Rinse the hands with warm water after use.
D. Use the sanitizer only when hands are visibly soiled.
Answer: A. Rub the hands together until they are completely dry.
Rationale: Alcohol-based hand rub should be applied to all hand surfaces and
rubbed until completely dry. It is recommended when hands are not visibly soiled
because it effectively reduces the number of microorganisms.
, 8. A nurse is caring for a patient with suspected pulmonary tuberculosis. Which type of isolation
precautions should be implemented?
A. Standard Precautions
B. Contact Precautions
C. Droplet Precautions
D. Airborne Precautions
Answer: D. Airborne Precautions
Rationale: Tuberculosis is transmitted through airborne droplet nuclei. Patients
should be placed in a negative-pressure room, and healthcare personnel should
wear a fit-tested N95 respirator.
9. Which nursing intervention is most effective in preventing healthcare-associated infections
(HAIs)?
A. Wearing gloves during all patient care activities.
B. Administering prophylactic antibiotics routinely.
C. Performing proper hand hygiene before and after patient contact.
D. Wearing a surgical mask throughout the entire shift.
Answer: C. Performing proper hand hygiene before and after patient contact.
Rationale: Hand hygiene remains the single most effective intervention for
preventing healthcare-associated infections by interrupting the transmission of
microorganisms between patients and healthcare workers.
10. A nurse is preparing to transfer a patient from the bed to a wheelchair. Which action
promotes patient safety?
A. Leave the wheelchair unlocked for easier movement.
B. Position the wheelchair several feet from the bed.
C. Lock the wheelchair brakes before the transfer.
D. Instruct the patient to stand without assistance.
Answer: C. Lock the wheelchair brakes before the transfer.
Rationale: Locking the wheelchair brakes prevents unexpected movement during
the transfer and significantly reduces the patient's risk of falling.
