NR 224 – Fundamentals of Nursing:
Infection Control & Standard Precautions
100 NCLEX®-Style Practice Questions with
Detailed Rationales
1. A nurse is preparing to enter a patient’s room. Which action is the
most effective method for preventing the spread of infection?
A. Wearing gloves at all times
B. Performing proper hand hygiene
C. Wearing a gown for every patient interaction
D. Keeping the patient’s door closed
Answer: B. Performing proper hand hygiene
Rationale: Hand hygiene is the single most important action healthcare
workers can perform to prevent the transmission of microorganisms.
2. A nurse is reviewing the chain of infection. Which component refers
to the place where microorganisms live and multiply?
A. Portal of entry
B. Reservoir
C. Mode of transmission
D. Susceptible host
Answer: B. Reservoir
,Rationale: A reservoir is the environment where microorganisms
survive, grow, and reproduce, such as humans, animals, soil, or water.
3. A nurse washes hands with soap and water. Which action
demonstrates correct technique?
A. Scrubbing all surfaces of the hands for at least 20 seconds
B. Rinsing hands quickly under water
C. Drying hands on clothing
D. Touching the sink after washing
Answer: A. Scrubbing all surfaces of the hands for at least 20 seconds
Rationale: Proper handwashing requires friction and adequate time to
remove microorganisms.
4. A nurse is caring for a patient with a suspected infection. Which
precaution should be applied to all patients regardless of diagnosis?
A. Standard precautions
B. Airborne precautions only
C. Contact precautions only
D. Protective isolation only
Answer: A. Standard precautions
Rationale: Standard precautions are used for every patient because
blood, body fluids, and secretions may contain infectious organisms.
5. A nurse is preparing to remove contaminated gloves. Which action is
correct?
,A. Avoid touching the outside surface of the gloves.
B. Remove gloves and touch clean equipment immediately.
C. Reuse gloves if they appear clean.
D. Wash gloves instead of removing them.
Answer: A. Avoid touching the outside surface of the gloves.
Rationale: The outside of gloves is considered contaminated and should
not contact bare skin.
6. A nurse is caring for a patient with an airborne infection. Which PPE
is required?
A. N95 respirator
B. Surgical gloves only
C. Face shield only
D. Shoe covers only
Answer: A. N95 respirator
Rationale: Airborne precautions require a fit-tested respirator such as
an N95 to filter small infectious particles.
7. A nurse is caring for a patient with Clostridioides difficile (C. difficile).
Which hand hygiene method is preferred?
A. Soap and water
B. Alcohol-based hand sanitizer only
C. No hand hygiene required
D. Perfume-based cleanser
Answer: A. Soap and water
, Rationale: C. difficile spores are not effectively removed by alcohol-
based sanitizers, making soap and water preferred.
8. A nurse is caring for a patient requiring contact precautions. Which
PPE should the nurse wear?
A. Gown and gloves
B. N95 respirator only
C. Sterile gloves only
D. Eye protection only
Answer: A. Gown and gloves
Rationale: Contact precautions prevent spread through direct or
indirect contact with contaminated surfaces or patients.
9. A nurse is performing a sterile procedure. Which action maintains
asepsis?
A. Keeping sterile supplies above waist level and within view
B. Reaching over a sterile field
C. Using contaminated gloves
D. Allowing sterile items to touch unsterile surfaces
Answer: A. Keeping sterile supplies above waist level and within view
Rationale: Sterile items must remain visible and controlled to prevent
contamination.
10. A nurse accidentally touches a sterile instrument with a bare hand.
What should the nurse do?
Infection Control & Standard Precautions
100 NCLEX®-Style Practice Questions with
Detailed Rationales
1. A nurse is preparing to enter a patient’s room. Which action is the
most effective method for preventing the spread of infection?
A. Wearing gloves at all times
B. Performing proper hand hygiene
C. Wearing a gown for every patient interaction
D. Keeping the patient’s door closed
Answer: B. Performing proper hand hygiene
Rationale: Hand hygiene is the single most important action healthcare
workers can perform to prevent the transmission of microorganisms.
2. A nurse is reviewing the chain of infection. Which component refers
to the place where microorganisms live and multiply?
A. Portal of entry
B. Reservoir
C. Mode of transmission
D. Susceptible host
Answer: B. Reservoir
,Rationale: A reservoir is the environment where microorganisms
survive, grow, and reproduce, such as humans, animals, soil, or water.
3. A nurse washes hands with soap and water. Which action
demonstrates correct technique?
A. Scrubbing all surfaces of the hands for at least 20 seconds
B. Rinsing hands quickly under water
C. Drying hands on clothing
D. Touching the sink after washing
Answer: A. Scrubbing all surfaces of the hands for at least 20 seconds
Rationale: Proper handwashing requires friction and adequate time to
remove microorganisms.
4. A nurse is caring for a patient with a suspected infection. Which
precaution should be applied to all patients regardless of diagnosis?
A. Standard precautions
B. Airborne precautions only
C. Contact precautions only
D. Protective isolation only
Answer: A. Standard precautions
Rationale: Standard precautions are used for every patient because
blood, body fluids, and secretions may contain infectious organisms.
5. A nurse is preparing to remove contaminated gloves. Which action is
correct?
,A. Avoid touching the outside surface of the gloves.
B. Remove gloves and touch clean equipment immediately.
C. Reuse gloves if they appear clean.
D. Wash gloves instead of removing them.
Answer: A. Avoid touching the outside surface of the gloves.
Rationale: The outside of gloves is considered contaminated and should
not contact bare skin.
6. A nurse is caring for a patient with an airborne infection. Which PPE
is required?
A. N95 respirator
B. Surgical gloves only
C. Face shield only
D. Shoe covers only
Answer: A. N95 respirator
Rationale: Airborne precautions require a fit-tested respirator such as
an N95 to filter small infectious particles.
7. A nurse is caring for a patient with Clostridioides difficile (C. difficile).
Which hand hygiene method is preferred?
A. Soap and water
B. Alcohol-based hand sanitizer only
C. No hand hygiene required
D. Perfume-based cleanser
Answer: A. Soap and water
, Rationale: C. difficile spores are not effectively removed by alcohol-
based sanitizers, making soap and water preferred.
8. A nurse is caring for a patient requiring contact precautions. Which
PPE should the nurse wear?
A. Gown and gloves
B. N95 respirator only
C. Sterile gloves only
D. Eye protection only
Answer: A. Gown and gloves
Rationale: Contact precautions prevent spread through direct or
indirect contact with contaminated surfaces or patients.
9. A nurse is performing a sterile procedure. Which action maintains
asepsis?
A. Keeping sterile supplies above waist level and within view
B. Reaching over a sterile field
C. Using contaminated gloves
D. Allowing sterile items to touch unsterile surfaces
Answer: A. Keeping sterile supplies above waist level and within view
Rationale: Sterile items must remain visible and controlled to prevent
contamination.
10. A nurse accidentally touches a sterile instrument with a bare hand.
What should the nurse do?
