Infection control & patient safety worksheet with answers

What is a “just culture” in patient safety?

1. AErrors are never discussed, in order to protect staff morale
2. BEvery error leads to formal punishment of the person involved
3. COnly doctors report errors, and nurses inform them
4. DErrors are reported openly and systems fixed; reckless acts are still addressed

Why are patients usually kept nil by mouth (NPO) for a period before general anesthesia?

1. ATo make the patient lose weight before surgery
2. BTo reduce the risk of aspirating stomach contents
3. CTo lower the risk of a wound infection
4. DTo prevent the patient from needing the toilet

Which precautions are used for a patient with mumps?

1. AAirborne precautions
2. BDroplet precautions
3. CContact precautions only
4. DStandard precautions only

A nurse gives part of a dose of an opioid from a vial and must discard the rest. What is correct?

1. AKeep the rest for the patient’s next dose
2. BReturn the rest to the patient’s medication drawer
3. CDiscard it alone in the sink and document the amount wasted later in the shift
4. DDiscard it in front of a second licensed (registered) nurse, who witnesses and documents it

Which nursing care reduces the risk of ventilator-associated pneumonia?

1. ALeaving secretions in the mouth to protect the airway
2. BLying the patient flat for most of the day
3. CChanging the ventilator circuit every few hours
4. DRegular oral care to reduce bacteria in the mouth

A patient in bed has a generalized tonic-clonic seizure. What should the nurse do?

1. ATurn the patient on their side and protect them from injury without restraining
2. BHold the arms and legs firmly to stop the movements
3. CGive sips of water to keep the airway moist
4. DPut a padded tongue blade between the teeth to protect the tongue from biting

Ten minutes into a red blood cell transfusion, the patient reports chills and low back pain and has a new fever. What should the nurse do first?

1. ASlow the transfusion and recheck vital signs in 15 minutes
2. BStop the transfusion
3. CCall the blood bank and let the transfusion continue
4. DGive an antipyretic and continue the transfusion

Two look-alike vials of different drugs are stored next to each other, and a nurse almost picks the wrong one. Which response best reflects a just culture?

1. ATell the nurse to be more careful and do nothing else
2. BDiscipline the nurse who nearly picked the wrong vial
3. CKeep the incident quiet to protect the unit’s reputation
4. DReport it and fix the system, for example by separating the vials