NR 224 – Fundamentals of Nursing: Infection
Prevention & Control
100 NCLEX®-Style Practice Questions with
Detailed Rationales
1. A nurse enters a patient's room to provide care. Which action is the most effective method to
prevent the spread of infection?
A. Wearing gloves at all times.
B. Performing hand hygiene before and after patient contact.
C. Wearing a mask during every patient interaction.
D. Using sterile equipment for all procedures.
Answer: B. Performing hand hygiene before and after patient contact.
Rationale: Hand hygiene is the single most important measure for preventing the
transmission of microorganisms between patients, healthcare workers, and the
environment.
2. A nurse is preparing to remove personal protective equipment (PPE) after caring for a patient
on isolation precautions. Which item should generally be removed first?
A. Gloves.
B. Goggles.
C. Mask.
D. Gown.
Answer: A. Gloves.
Rationale: Gloves are considered the most contaminated PPE item and should be
removed first to reduce the risk of spreading microorganisms.
,3. A nurse is caring for a patient with a suspected airborne infection. Which precaution is
required?
A. Surgical mask and private room.
B. Negative-pressure room and fit-tested respirator.
C. Gloves only.
D. Contact precautions only.
Answer: B. Negative-pressure room and fit-tested respirator.
Rationale: Airborne precautions require a negative-pressure room and a properly
fitted respirator, such as an N95, to prevent inhalation of infectious particles.
4. A nurse is performing hand hygiene with soap and water. Which action is correct?
A. Wash hands for at least 20 seconds.
B. Rinse hands immediately after applying soap.
C. Use hot water only.
D. Dry hands on the patient's towel.
Answer: A. Wash hands for at least 20 seconds.
Rationale: Proper handwashing requires adequate friction and time to remove
microorganisms. Hands should be dried using a clean towel or air dryer.
5. A nurse is caring for a patient with Clostridioides difficile (C. difficile). Which action is
appropriate?
A. Use alcohol-based hand sanitizer only after care.
B. Wash hands with soap and water after removing gloves.
C. Place the patient on airborne precautions.
D. Use only a surgical mask.
Answer: B. Wash hands with soap and water after removing gloves.
Rationale: C. difficile spores are not reliably removed by alcohol-based sanitizers.
Soap and water with friction are required.
6. A nurse is preparing a sterile field. Which action contaminates the sterile field?
,A. Keeping sterile supplies above waist level.
B. Touching sterile gloves with bare hands.
C. Opening sterile packages away from the body.
D. Maintaining a dry sterile field.
Answer: B. Touching sterile gloves with bare hands.
Rationale: Any contact between sterile items and nonsterile objects contaminates
the sterile field.
7. Which patient requires contact precautions?
A. A patient with tuberculosis.
B. A patient with influenza.
C. A patient with a draining wound containing resistant bacteria.
D. A patient with measles.
Answer: C. A patient with a draining wound containing resistant bacteria.
Rationale: Contact precautions are used for infections spread by direct or indirect
contact, including draining wounds caused by resistant organisms.
8. A nurse is preparing to insert a urinary catheter. Which technique is required?
A. Clean technique.
B. Sterile technique.
C. Medical asepsis only.
D. No precautions.
Answer: B. Sterile technique.
Rationale: Urinary catheter insertion requires sterile technique because
microorganisms introduced into the urinary tract can cause infection.
9. A nurse accidentally touches a sterile catheter tip with a nonsterile glove. What should the
nurse do?
A. Continue because the contamination is minor.
B. Clean the catheter tip with alcohol.
, C. Discard the catheter and obtain a new sterile one.
D. Rinse the catheter with sterile water.
Answer: C. Discard the catheter and obtain a new sterile one.
Rationale: Once a sterile item becomes contaminated, it must be replaced. Cleaning
it does not restore sterility.
10. A nurse is caring for a patient requiring droplet precautions. Which PPE is required?
A. N95 respirator only.
B. Surgical mask when within close range of the patient.
C. Sterile gloves only.
D. Shoe covers only.
Answer: B. Surgical mask when within close range of the patient.
Rationale: Droplet precautions prevent transmission of larger respiratory droplets
that travel short distances.
11. Which action by a nurse requires correction when performing hand hygiene?
A. Cleaning hands before touching a patient.
B. Wearing artificial nails while providing patient care.
C. Washing hands after removing gloves.
D. Using alcohol-based hand rub when hands are not visibly soiled.
Answer: B. Wearing artificial nails while providing patient care.
Rationale: Artificial nails can harbor microorganisms and increase the risk of
healthcare-associated infections.
12. A nurse is educating a patient about infection prevention. Which statement indicates
understanding?
A. "Antibiotics can treat all infections."
B. "Hand hygiene helps prevent the spread of germs."
C. "I do not need to cover coughs."
D. "Sharing personal items prevents infection."
Prevention & Control
100 NCLEX®-Style Practice Questions with
Detailed Rationales
1. A nurse enters a patient's room to provide care. Which action is the most effective method to
prevent the spread of infection?
A. Wearing gloves at all times.
B. Performing hand hygiene before and after patient contact.
C. Wearing a mask during every patient interaction.
D. Using sterile equipment for all procedures.
Answer: B. Performing hand hygiene before and after patient contact.
Rationale: Hand hygiene is the single most important measure for preventing the
transmission of microorganisms between patients, healthcare workers, and the
environment.
2. A nurse is preparing to remove personal protective equipment (PPE) after caring for a patient
on isolation precautions. Which item should generally be removed first?
A. Gloves.
B. Goggles.
C. Mask.
D. Gown.
Answer: A. Gloves.
Rationale: Gloves are considered the most contaminated PPE item and should be
removed first to reduce the risk of spreading microorganisms.
,3. A nurse is caring for a patient with a suspected airborne infection. Which precaution is
required?
A. Surgical mask and private room.
B. Negative-pressure room and fit-tested respirator.
C. Gloves only.
D. Contact precautions only.
Answer: B. Negative-pressure room and fit-tested respirator.
Rationale: Airborne precautions require a negative-pressure room and a properly
fitted respirator, such as an N95, to prevent inhalation of infectious particles.
4. A nurse is performing hand hygiene with soap and water. Which action is correct?
A. Wash hands for at least 20 seconds.
B. Rinse hands immediately after applying soap.
C. Use hot water only.
D. Dry hands on the patient's towel.
Answer: A. Wash hands for at least 20 seconds.
Rationale: Proper handwashing requires adequate friction and time to remove
microorganisms. Hands should be dried using a clean towel or air dryer.
5. A nurse is caring for a patient with Clostridioides difficile (C. difficile). Which action is
appropriate?
A. Use alcohol-based hand sanitizer only after care.
B. Wash hands with soap and water after removing gloves.
C. Place the patient on airborne precautions.
D. Use only a surgical mask.
Answer: B. Wash hands with soap and water after removing gloves.
Rationale: C. difficile spores are not reliably removed by alcohol-based sanitizers.
Soap and water with friction are required.
6. A nurse is preparing a sterile field. Which action contaminates the sterile field?
,A. Keeping sterile supplies above waist level.
B. Touching sterile gloves with bare hands.
C. Opening sterile packages away from the body.
D. Maintaining a dry sterile field.
Answer: B. Touching sterile gloves with bare hands.
Rationale: Any contact between sterile items and nonsterile objects contaminates
the sterile field.
7. Which patient requires contact precautions?
A. A patient with tuberculosis.
B. A patient with influenza.
C. A patient with a draining wound containing resistant bacteria.
D. A patient with measles.
Answer: C. A patient with a draining wound containing resistant bacteria.
Rationale: Contact precautions are used for infections spread by direct or indirect
contact, including draining wounds caused by resistant organisms.
8. A nurse is preparing to insert a urinary catheter. Which technique is required?
A. Clean technique.
B. Sterile technique.
C. Medical asepsis only.
D. No precautions.
Answer: B. Sterile technique.
Rationale: Urinary catheter insertion requires sterile technique because
microorganisms introduced into the urinary tract can cause infection.
9. A nurse accidentally touches a sterile catheter tip with a nonsterile glove. What should the
nurse do?
A. Continue because the contamination is minor.
B. Clean the catheter tip with alcohol.
, C. Discard the catheter and obtain a new sterile one.
D. Rinse the catheter with sterile water.
Answer: C. Discard the catheter and obtain a new sterile one.
Rationale: Once a sterile item becomes contaminated, it must be replaced. Cleaning
it does not restore sterility.
10. A nurse is caring for a patient requiring droplet precautions. Which PPE is required?
A. N95 respirator only.
B. Surgical mask when within close range of the patient.
C. Sterile gloves only.
D. Shoe covers only.
Answer: B. Surgical mask when within close range of the patient.
Rationale: Droplet precautions prevent transmission of larger respiratory droplets
that travel short distances.
11. Which action by a nurse requires correction when performing hand hygiene?
A. Cleaning hands before touching a patient.
B. Wearing artificial nails while providing patient care.
C. Washing hands after removing gloves.
D. Using alcohol-based hand rub when hands are not visibly soiled.
Answer: B. Wearing artificial nails while providing patient care.
Rationale: Artificial nails can harbor microorganisms and increase the risk of
healthcare-associated infections.
12. A nurse is educating a patient about infection prevention. Which statement indicates
understanding?
A. "Antibiotics can treat all infections."
B. "Hand hygiene helps prevent the spread of germs."
C. "I do not need to cover coughs."
D. "Sharing personal items prevents infection."
