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 for every patient
D. Keeping the patient isolated
Answer: B. Performing hand hygiene before and after patient contact
Rationale: Hand hygiene is the single most important action for preventing the
transmission of microorganisms in healthcare settings.
2. A nurse is preparing to provide care using Standard Precautions. Which
patients require Standard Precautions?
A. Only patients with known infections
B. Only patients in isolation
C. All patients regardless of diagnosis
D. Only patients with bloodborne diseases
Answer: C. All patients regardless of diagnosis
Rationale: Standard Precautions are applied to every patient because infections
may be present even when not known.
,3. A nurse removes gloves after completing patient care. Which action should
the nurse perform next?
A. Perform hand hygiene
B. Touch clean equipment immediately
C. Document before cleaning hands
D. Reuse the gloves
Answer: A. Perform hand hygiene
Rationale: Gloves do not replace hand hygiene because contamination may occur
during glove removal.
4. A nurse is preparing to enter a room requiring contact precautions. Which PPE
is commonly required?
A. Gloves and gown
B. Only a mask
C. Only eye protection
D. No PPE
Answer: A. Gloves and gown
Rationale: Contact precautions prevent transmission through direct or indirect
contact with infectious material.
5. A nurse is caring for a patient with an airborne infection. Which precaution is
required?
A. Negative-pressure room and appropriate respirator
B. Standard room only
C. Gloves only
D. Contact precautions only
Answer: A. Negative-pressure room and appropriate respirator
,Rationale: Airborne precautions require special ventilation and respiratory
protection to prevent inhalation of infectious particles.
6. A nurse is caring for a patient with a condition requiring droplet precautions.
Which PPE is appropriate?
A. Surgical mask
B. Sterile gloves only
C. Shoe covers only
D. No protection
Answer: A. Surgical mask
Rationale: Droplet precautions protect against respiratory droplets produced
during coughing, sneezing, or talking.
7. A nurse is performing hand hygiene with alcohol-based hand rub. When is this
appropriate?
A. When hands are not visibly soiled
B. When hands are covered with dirt
C. After handling chemicals only
D. Instead of all cleaning procedures
Answer: A. When hands are not visibly soiled
Rationale: Alcohol-based hand rub is effective for routine hand hygiene when
hands are not visibly contaminated.
8. A nurse’s hands are visibly contaminated with blood. Which action is
appropriate?
A. Wash hands with soap and water
B. Use lotion only
, C. Wipe hands on clothing
D. Put on new gloves without cleaning
Answer: A. Wash hands with soap and water
Rationale: Visible contamination requires washing with soap and water.
9. A nurse is preparing a sterile field. Which action contaminates the field?
A. Allowing a sterile item to touch a nonsterile surface
B. Maintaining sterile technique
C. Opening supplies correctly
D. Keeping sterile items within view
Answer: A. Allowing a sterile item to touch a nonsterile surface
Rationale: Any contact between sterile and nonsterile objects contaminates the
sterile field.
10. A nurse is applying PPE before entering an isolation room. Which item is
usually applied first?
A. Gown
B. Gloves
C. Mask
D. Eye protection
Answer: A. Gown
Rationale: The gown is typically applied first because it provides protection for
clothing and skin.
11. A nurse is removing PPE after patient care. Which action is important?
A. Remove PPE carefully to avoid self-contamination
B. Touch the outside of contaminated gloves freely
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 for every patient
D. Keeping the patient isolated
Answer: B. Performing hand hygiene before and after patient contact
Rationale: Hand hygiene is the single most important action for preventing the
transmission of microorganisms in healthcare settings.
2. A nurse is preparing to provide care using Standard Precautions. Which
patients require Standard Precautions?
A. Only patients with known infections
B. Only patients in isolation
C. All patients regardless of diagnosis
D. Only patients with bloodborne diseases
Answer: C. All patients regardless of diagnosis
Rationale: Standard Precautions are applied to every patient because infections
may be present even when not known.
,3. A nurse removes gloves after completing patient care. Which action should
the nurse perform next?
A. Perform hand hygiene
B. Touch clean equipment immediately
C. Document before cleaning hands
D. Reuse the gloves
Answer: A. Perform hand hygiene
Rationale: Gloves do not replace hand hygiene because contamination may occur
during glove removal.
4. A nurse is preparing to enter a room requiring contact precautions. Which PPE
is commonly required?
A. Gloves and gown
B. Only a mask
C. Only eye protection
D. No PPE
Answer: A. Gloves and gown
Rationale: Contact precautions prevent transmission through direct or indirect
contact with infectious material.
5. A nurse is caring for a patient with an airborne infection. Which precaution is
required?
A. Negative-pressure room and appropriate respirator
B. Standard room only
C. Gloves only
D. Contact precautions only
Answer: A. Negative-pressure room and appropriate respirator
,Rationale: Airborne precautions require special ventilation and respiratory
protection to prevent inhalation of infectious particles.
6. A nurse is caring for a patient with a condition requiring droplet precautions.
Which PPE is appropriate?
A. Surgical mask
B. Sterile gloves only
C. Shoe covers only
D. No protection
Answer: A. Surgical mask
Rationale: Droplet precautions protect against respiratory droplets produced
during coughing, sneezing, or talking.
7. A nurse is performing hand hygiene with alcohol-based hand rub. When is this
appropriate?
A. When hands are not visibly soiled
B. When hands are covered with dirt
C. After handling chemicals only
D. Instead of all cleaning procedures
Answer: A. When hands are not visibly soiled
Rationale: Alcohol-based hand rub is effective for routine hand hygiene when
hands are not visibly contaminated.
8. A nurse’s hands are visibly contaminated with blood. Which action is
appropriate?
A. Wash hands with soap and water
B. Use lotion only
, C. Wipe hands on clothing
D. Put on new gloves without cleaning
Answer: A. Wash hands with soap and water
Rationale: Visible contamination requires washing with soap and water.
9. A nurse is preparing a sterile field. Which action contaminates the field?
A. Allowing a sterile item to touch a nonsterile surface
B. Maintaining sterile technique
C. Opening supplies correctly
D. Keeping sterile items within view
Answer: A. Allowing a sterile item to touch a nonsterile surface
Rationale: Any contact between sterile and nonsterile objects contaminates the
sterile field.
10. A nurse is applying PPE before entering an isolation room. Which item is
usually applied first?
A. Gown
B. Gloves
C. Mask
D. Eye protection
Answer: A. Gown
Rationale: The gown is typically applied first because it provides protection for
clothing and skin.
11. A nurse is removing PPE after patient care. Which action is important?
A. Remove PPE carefully to avoid self-contamination
B. Touch the outside of contaminated gloves freely
