1Formulas and methods
Infection control & patient safety
Method
- Start with standard precautions for every patient: hand hygiene, PPE for the expected exposure, safe sharps.
- Add precautions by route: contact (gown, gloves), droplet (surgical mask), airborne (N95, negative-pressure room).
- Keep sterile items sterile: if in doubt, it is not sterile; replace, never wipe.
- Prevent harm in the environment: fall measures, restraints only as a last resort, RACE and PASS for fire.
- Check the rights of medication administration, two identifiers and extra safeguards for high-alert drugs; report errors and near misses.
2Practice problems
1.Infection control & patient safetyMedium
How should a newborn be moved through hospital corridors?
- AIn a bassinet, not carried in the arms
- BOn the mother’s lap in a wheelchair, without staff
- CIn the arms of any visitor who offers to help
- DCarried in the nurse’s arms for comfort
2.Infection control & patient safetyHard
A patient on airborne precautions for tuberculosis wants to walk in the hallway. What is the best response?
- AExplain that they must stay in the room, and offer ways to stay active inside it
- BAllow it, if they avoid the nurses’ station
- CAllow it, as long as the patient wears an N95 respirator in the corridor
- DAllow it, as long as they walk quickly
3.Nursing fundamentalsMedium
According to Erikson, what is the main developmental task of older adulthood?
- AIntegrity versus despair
- BIdentity versus role confusion
- CTrust versus mistrust
- DIndustry versus inferiority
4.Nursing fundamentalsHard
A Waterlow or Braden score is used to assess:
- ALevel of consciousness
- BFall risk
- CNutritional status only
- DPressure ulcer risk
5.MicrobiologyMedium
In which phase of the bacterial growth curve do the cells divide at their fastest constant rate?
- ALag (adaptation) phase
- BDeath phase
- CStationary (plateau) phase
- DLog (exponential) phase
6.MicrobiologyHard
What is the key difference between bactericidal and bacteriostatic antibiotics?
- ABactericidal drugs work only on viruses; bacteriostatic drugs work on bacteria
- BBactericidal drugs kill bacteria; bacteriostatic drugs stop growth and rely on the immune system to clear them
- CBactericidal drugs work only outside the body
- DBacteriostatic drugs always work faster than bactericidal drugs
3Solutions
1.Infection control & patient safety
Answer: A · In a bassinet, not carried in the arms
Why this is the answer
Infants are moved in a bassinet through corridors. This prevents drops and makes abduction easier to spot, because carrying a baby in the arms in a hallway is unusual.
A · In a bassinet, not carried in the arms
2.Infection control & patient safety
Answer: A · Explain that they must stay in the room, and offer ways to stay active inside it
Why this is the answer
Patients on airborne precautions stay in the negative-pressure room with the door closed, leaving only for essential tests while wearing a surgical mask. The nurse explains why and helps the patient cope with confinement.
A · Explain that they must stay in the room, and offer ways to stay active inside it
3.Nursing fundamentals
Answer: A · Integrity versus despair
Why this is the answer
In late adulthood people review their lives. A sense of meaning brings integrity, while regret can lead to despair. Reminiscence can support this stage.
A · Integrity versus despair
4.Nursing fundamentals
Answer: D · Pressure ulcer risk
Why this is the answer
Both scales estimate the risk of pressure injuries and guide prevention such as repositioning, pressure-relieving mattresses and nutrition support.
5.Microbiology
Answer: D · Log (exponential) phase
Why this is the answer
After the lag phase of adjustment, cells enter the log phase and grow exponentially. Growth stops in the stationary phase as nutrients run out and waste builds up.
D · Log (exponential) phase
6.Microbiology
Answer: B · Bactericidal drugs kill bacteria; bacteriostatic drugs stop growth and rely on the immune system to clear them
Why this is the answer
Bacteriostatic drugs halt multiplication so host defences can eliminate the bacteria. Bactericidal drugs are preferred when defences are weak or hard to reach, such as in endocarditis or neutropenia.
B · Bactericidal drugs kill bacteria; bacteriostatic drugs stop growth and rely on the immune system to clear them