NSG 3100 Clinical Skills/Lab Exam Questions
with Correct Answers (VerifiedAnswers) Plus
Rationales 2026 Q&A Instant Download PDF
Question 1 — Hand Hygiene
A nursing student is preparing to perform a sterile dressing
change. Which action should the student perform first?
A. Put on sterile gloves
B. Open the sterile dressing package
C. Perform hand hygiene
D. Apply the sterile dressing
Rationale: Hand hygiene is the first and most fundamental
infection-prevention measure before performing a clinical
procedure. Hands may carry microorganisms even when they
appear clean. Performing hand hygiene before gathering or
handling supplies helps reduce transmission of microorganisms
to the patient, equipment, and sterile field. Sterile gloves do not
replace hand hygiene because the outside of the gloves can
become contaminated during application or use.
Question 2 — Standard Precautions
,Which intervention is most appropriate when caring for every
patient regardless of the patient's diagnosis?
A. Airborne precautions
B. Droplet precautions
C. Contact precautions
D. Standard precautions
Rationale: Standard precautions are used for all patients
because blood, body fluids, non-intact skin, mucous
membranes, and potentially contaminated materials may
transmit infection. Standard precautions include appropriate
hand hygiene, personal protective equipment based on
anticipated exposure, respiratory hygiene, safe injection
practices, and appropriate handling of contaminated
equipment. Additional transmission-based precautions are
added when a specific infectious risk is identified.
Question 3 — Donning Personal Protective Equipment
Which item should generally be applied first when donning full
personal protective equipment?
A. Gloves
B. Goggles
C. Gown
D. Gown
,Rationale: When a gown, mask or respirator, eye protection,
and gloves are required, the gown is generally donned first. This
provides protection to the clothing and skin before the
remaining equipment is applied. Gloves are usually applied last
so they can extend over the gown cuffs and provide a
continuous protective barrier.
Question 4 — Removing Gloves
After completing a procedure, the nurse removes contaminated
gloves. What is the correct action?
A. Pull both gloves off by grasping the fingertips
B. Remove one glove and immediately place it on the bedside
table
C. Grasp the outside of one glove near the wrist and peel it
away, turning it inside out
D. Wash the gloves before removing them
Rationale: The outside of contaminated gloves should not be
touched with bare skin. The nurse grasps the contaminated
glove near the wrist and peels it away from the hand, turning it
inside out. The removed glove is held in the gloved hand while
the fingers of the ungloved hand are inserted under the
remaining glove at the wrist. The second glove is then peeled off
over the first glove, containing the contamination inside.
, Question 5 — Sterile Field
A nurse accidentally reaches across the sterile field while
preparing a sterile procedure. What should the nurse do?
A. Continue because the gloves are sterile
B. Wipe the area with antiseptic solution
C. Cover the contaminated area with a sterile towel
D. Consider the affected sterile field contaminated and replace
the contaminated supplies or field
Rationale: Reaching across a sterile field can contaminate the
field because the nurse's body or clothing may pass over sterile
equipment. Sterility must be maintained throughout the
procedure. Once a sterile item or field is contaminated, simply
wiping it or covering the contamination does not restore
sterility. The contaminated material should be replaced
according to the procedure and institutional policy.
Question 6 — Vital Signs
Which vital sign should the nurse assess first when a patient
reports sudden shortness of breath?
A. Temperature
B. Blood pressure
with Correct Answers (VerifiedAnswers) Plus
Rationales 2026 Q&A Instant Download PDF
Question 1 — Hand Hygiene
A nursing student is preparing to perform a sterile dressing
change. Which action should the student perform first?
A. Put on sterile gloves
B. Open the sterile dressing package
C. Perform hand hygiene
D. Apply the sterile dressing
Rationale: Hand hygiene is the first and most fundamental
infection-prevention measure before performing a clinical
procedure. Hands may carry microorganisms even when they
appear clean. Performing hand hygiene before gathering or
handling supplies helps reduce transmission of microorganisms
to the patient, equipment, and sterile field. Sterile gloves do not
replace hand hygiene because the outside of the gloves can
become contaminated during application or use.
Question 2 — Standard Precautions
,Which intervention is most appropriate when caring for every
patient regardless of the patient's diagnosis?
A. Airborne precautions
B. Droplet precautions
C. Contact precautions
D. Standard precautions
Rationale: Standard precautions are used for all patients
because blood, body fluids, non-intact skin, mucous
membranes, and potentially contaminated materials may
transmit infection. Standard precautions include appropriate
hand hygiene, personal protective equipment based on
anticipated exposure, respiratory hygiene, safe injection
practices, and appropriate handling of contaminated
equipment. Additional transmission-based precautions are
added when a specific infectious risk is identified.
Question 3 — Donning Personal Protective Equipment
Which item should generally be applied first when donning full
personal protective equipment?
A. Gloves
B. Goggles
C. Gown
D. Gown
,Rationale: When a gown, mask or respirator, eye protection,
and gloves are required, the gown is generally donned first. This
provides protection to the clothing and skin before the
remaining equipment is applied. Gloves are usually applied last
so they can extend over the gown cuffs and provide a
continuous protective barrier.
Question 4 — Removing Gloves
After completing a procedure, the nurse removes contaminated
gloves. What is the correct action?
A. Pull both gloves off by grasping the fingertips
B. Remove one glove and immediately place it on the bedside
table
C. Grasp the outside of one glove near the wrist and peel it
away, turning it inside out
D. Wash the gloves before removing them
Rationale: The outside of contaminated gloves should not be
touched with bare skin. The nurse grasps the contaminated
glove near the wrist and peels it away from the hand, turning it
inside out. The removed glove is held in the gloved hand while
the fingers of the ungloved hand are inserted under the
remaining glove at the wrist. The second glove is then peeled off
over the first glove, containing the contamination inside.
, Question 5 — Sterile Field
A nurse accidentally reaches across the sterile field while
preparing a sterile procedure. What should the nurse do?
A. Continue because the gloves are sterile
B. Wipe the area with antiseptic solution
C. Cover the contaminated area with a sterile towel
D. Consider the affected sterile field contaminated and replace
the contaminated supplies or field
Rationale: Reaching across a sterile field can contaminate the
field because the nurse's body or clothing may pass over sterile
equipment. Sterility must be maintained throughout the
procedure. Once a sterile item or field is contaminated, simply
wiping it or covering the contamination does not restore
sterility. The contaminated material should be replaced
according to the procedure and institutional policy.
Question 6 — Vital Signs
Which vital sign should the nurse assess first when a patient
reports sudden shortness of breath?
A. Temperature
B. Blood pressure
