ATI SAFETY AND INFECTION CONTROL
EXAM – QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS |
2026/2027 LATEST UPDATE
SECTION 1: STANDARD PRECAUTIONS AND BASIC
INFECTION CONTROL
Question 1. Which nursing action is the most effective routine measure for
preventing transmission of microorganisms between clients?
A) Performing hand hygiene before and after client contact
B) Wearing sterile gloves for every procedure
C) Placing every client in a private room
D) Administering prophylactic antibiotics
Correct Answer: Performing hand hygiene before and after client contact
Rationale: Hand hygiene is the most fundamental practice for interrupting transmission of
microorganisms in health care. It should be performed at appropriate moments before and after
client contact and after exposure to potentially infectious material. Gloves do not replace hand
hygiene, and sterile gloves are unnecessary for routine contact.
Question 2. A nurse is caring for a client with a draining wound. Which
precaution should the nurse use as the foundation for infection prevention?
A) Airborne precautions
B) Standard precautions
C) Protective isolation
D) Reverse isolation only
Correct Answer: Standard precautions
Rationale: Standard precautions apply to the care of every client regardless of known infection
status. They are based on the assumption that blood, certain body fluids, nonintact skin, and
mucous membranes may contain transmissible microorganisms. Additional transmission-based
precautions are added when the client's condition warrants them.
,Question 3. Which situation requires the nurse to perform hand hygiene even
though gloves were worn?
A) Only before entering a client's room
B) Only when gloves become visibly torn
C) After removing the gloves
D) Only before applying a second pair of gloves
Correct Answer: After removing the gloves
Rationale: Gloves can develop microscopic defects or become contaminated during care. Hand
hygiene is required after glove removal because contamination can occur while removing the
gloves. Gloves are an additional barrier and should never be considered a substitute for
appropriate hand hygiene.
Question 4. When should soap and water generally be selected instead of an
alcohol-based hand rub?
A) Whenever the nurse enters a client's room
B) Before taking a blood pressure
C) When hands are visibly soiled
D) After every use of clean gloves
Correct Answer: When hands are visibly soiled
Rationale: Soap and water are indicated when hands are visibly dirty or contaminated with
certain substances for which mechanical washing is preferred. Alcohol-based hand rubs are
effective for many routine situations when hands are not visibly soiled. Proper hand hygiene
technique remains essential with either method.
Question 5. A nurse accidentally touches a contaminated bedside table while
wearing gloves. What should the nurse do before touching the client's clean
supplies?
A) Remove the gloves, perform hand hygiene, and apply clean gloves if needed
B) Wipe the contaminated gloves with alcohol
C) Continue because the gloves protect the supplies
,D) Place a second pair of gloves over the contaminated pair
Correct Answer: Remove the gloves, perform hand hygiene, and apply clean gloves if
needed
Rationale: Gloves become contaminated when they contact contaminated surfaces. Continuing
to handle clean supplies with those gloves can transfer microorganisms. The nurse should
remove the gloves, perform hand hygiene, and obtain clean gloves when another barrier is
required.
Question 6. Which action best demonstrates medical asepsis?
A) Maintaining a sterile field during surgery
B) Using sterile instruments for catheter insertion
C) Reducing the number and spread of microorganisms
D) Eliminating every microorganism from an object
Correct Answer: Reducing the number and spread of microorganisms
Rationale: Medical asepsis, or clean technique, focuses on reducing the number and
transmission of microorganisms. Surgical asepsis is intended to maintain an area or object free
of microorganisms. Clean technique is appropriate for many routine nursing activities where
sterility is not required.
Question 7. Which statement correctly describes surgical asepsis?
A) It is used only when caring for clients with respiratory infections.
B) It is designed to eliminate or prevent contamination of a sterile field.
C) It requires gloves for every nursing interaction.
D) It is identical to routine hand hygiene.
Correct Answer: It is designed to eliminate or prevent contamination of a sterile field.
Rationale: Surgical asepsis, or sterile technique, is used when procedures require a sterile
environment. The goal is to prevent introduction of microorganisms into sterile areas or objects.
It involves specific practices for preparing, maintaining, and protecting the sterile field.
Question 8. A nurse notices that a sterile package is wet before opening it. What
is the appropriate action?
, A) Dry the package with a sterile towel
B) Open it because the contents are still sterile
C) Place it under a heat lamp
D) Discard it and obtain a new sterile package
Correct Answer: Discard it and obtain a new sterile package
Rationale: Moisture can allow microorganisms to migrate through packaging and compromise
sterility. A wet sterile package should therefore be considered contaminated. The nurse should
obtain another intact, dry sterile package rather than attempting to restore the original
package's sterility.
Question 9. Which finding most strongly suggests that a sterile field has been
contaminated?
A) The sterile item remains above waist level.
B) The nurse keeps the field within view.
C) A sterile glove touches the nurse's uniform.
D) The sterile package remains dry.
Correct Answer: A sterile glove touches the nurse's uniform.
Rationale: The nurse's uniform is not sterile, so contact between a sterile glove and the uniform
contaminates the glove. Sterile objects must contact only sterile surfaces. Keeping the field
visible, above the waist, and dry helps preserve sterility.
Question 10. While preparing a sterile field, the nurse turns away from it to
answer a telephone. What is the safest response?
A) Consider the field contaminated and prepare another one
B) Continue because the field was initially sterile
C) Cover the field with a clean towel
D) Ask another nurse to watch it after returning
Correct Answer: Consider the field contaminated and prepare another one
EXAM – QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS |
2026/2027 LATEST UPDATE
SECTION 1: STANDARD PRECAUTIONS AND BASIC
INFECTION CONTROL
Question 1. Which nursing action is the most effective routine measure for
preventing transmission of microorganisms between clients?
A) Performing hand hygiene before and after client contact
B) Wearing sterile gloves for every procedure
C) Placing every client in a private room
D) Administering prophylactic antibiotics
Correct Answer: Performing hand hygiene before and after client contact
Rationale: Hand hygiene is the most fundamental practice for interrupting transmission of
microorganisms in health care. It should be performed at appropriate moments before and after
client contact and after exposure to potentially infectious material. Gloves do not replace hand
hygiene, and sterile gloves are unnecessary for routine contact.
Question 2. A nurse is caring for a client with a draining wound. Which
precaution should the nurse use as the foundation for infection prevention?
A) Airborne precautions
B) Standard precautions
C) Protective isolation
D) Reverse isolation only
Correct Answer: Standard precautions
Rationale: Standard precautions apply to the care of every client regardless of known infection
status. They are based on the assumption that blood, certain body fluids, nonintact skin, and
mucous membranes may contain transmissible microorganisms. Additional transmission-based
precautions are added when the client's condition warrants them.
,Question 3. Which situation requires the nurse to perform hand hygiene even
though gloves were worn?
A) Only before entering a client's room
B) Only when gloves become visibly torn
C) After removing the gloves
D) Only before applying a second pair of gloves
Correct Answer: After removing the gloves
Rationale: Gloves can develop microscopic defects or become contaminated during care. Hand
hygiene is required after glove removal because contamination can occur while removing the
gloves. Gloves are an additional barrier and should never be considered a substitute for
appropriate hand hygiene.
Question 4. When should soap and water generally be selected instead of an
alcohol-based hand rub?
A) Whenever the nurse enters a client's room
B) Before taking a blood pressure
C) When hands are visibly soiled
D) After every use of clean gloves
Correct Answer: When hands are visibly soiled
Rationale: Soap and water are indicated when hands are visibly dirty or contaminated with
certain substances for which mechanical washing is preferred. Alcohol-based hand rubs are
effective for many routine situations when hands are not visibly soiled. Proper hand hygiene
technique remains essential with either method.
Question 5. A nurse accidentally touches a contaminated bedside table while
wearing gloves. What should the nurse do before touching the client's clean
supplies?
A) Remove the gloves, perform hand hygiene, and apply clean gloves if needed
B) Wipe the contaminated gloves with alcohol
C) Continue because the gloves protect the supplies
,D) Place a second pair of gloves over the contaminated pair
Correct Answer: Remove the gloves, perform hand hygiene, and apply clean gloves if
needed
Rationale: Gloves become contaminated when they contact contaminated surfaces. Continuing
to handle clean supplies with those gloves can transfer microorganisms. The nurse should
remove the gloves, perform hand hygiene, and obtain clean gloves when another barrier is
required.
Question 6. Which action best demonstrates medical asepsis?
A) Maintaining a sterile field during surgery
B) Using sterile instruments for catheter insertion
C) Reducing the number and spread of microorganisms
D) Eliminating every microorganism from an object
Correct Answer: Reducing the number and spread of microorganisms
Rationale: Medical asepsis, or clean technique, focuses on reducing the number and
transmission of microorganisms. Surgical asepsis is intended to maintain an area or object free
of microorganisms. Clean technique is appropriate for many routine nursing activities where
sterility is not required.
Question 7. Which statement correctly describes surgical asepsis?
A) It is used only when caring for clients with respiratory infections.
B) It is designed to eliminate or prevent contamination of a sterile field.
C) It requires gloves for every nursing interaction.
D) It is identical to routine hand hygiene.
Correct Answer: It is designed to eliminate or prevent contamination of a sterile field.
Rationale: Surgical asepsis, or sterile technique, is used when procedures require a sterile
environment. The goal is to prevent introduction of microorganisms into sterile areas or objects.
It involves specific practices for preparing, maintaining, and protecting the sterile field.
Question 8. A nurse notices that a sterile package is wet before opening it. What
is the appropriate action?
, A) Dry the package with a sterile towel
B) Open it because the contents are still sterile
C) Place it under a heat lamp
D) Discard it and obtain a new sterile package
Correct Answer: Discard it and obtain a new sterile package
Rationale: Moisture can allow microorganisms to migrate through packaging and compromise
sterility. A wet sterile package should therefore be considered contaminated. The nurse should
obtain another intact, dry sterile package rather than attempting to restore the original
package's sterility.
Question 9. Which finding most strongly suggests that a sterile field has been
contaminated?
A) The sterile item remains above waist level.
B) The nurse keeps the field within view.
C) A sterile glove touches the nurse's uniform.
D) The sterile package remains dry.
Correct Answer: A sterile glove touches the nurse's uniform.
Rationale: The nurse's uniform is not sterile, so contact between a sterile glove and the uniform
contaminates the glove. Sterile objects must contact only sterile surfaces. Keeping the field
visible, above the waist, and dry helps preserve sterility.
Question 10. While preparing a sterile field, the nurse turns away from it to
answer a telephone. What is the safest response?
A) Consider the field contaminated and prepare another one
B) Continue because the field was initially sterile
C) Cover the field with a clean towel
D) Ask another nurse to watch it after returning
Correct Answer: Consider the field contaminated and prepare another one
