Infection control & patient safety worksheet with answers

A patient has confirmed seasonal influenza. Which transmission-based precautions are used?

1. ANo precautions beyond hand hygiene
2. BDroplet precautions
3. CAirborne precautions
4. DContact precautions only

How should a nurse dispose of a used glass ampoule after drawing up a drug?

1. AIn the general waste bin, wrapped in paper
2. BIn a sharps container
3. CIn a clinical waste bag
4. DIn the glass recycling bin

Where must sterile items be held to stay sterile?

1. AAny level, as long as nothing non-sterile touches it
2. BBehind the back
3. CAbove waist level and in front of the nurse
4. DBelow the waist

Why is blood glucose control important around the time of surgery?

1. AHigh glucose makes anesthetic drugs work for much longer and delays waking up
2. BLow glucose is needed around surgery so that the wound edges close more quickly
3. CGlucose levels only affect patients who have type 1 diabetes
4. DHigh glucose impairs white cell function and raises the risk of surgical site infection

A nurse who never had BCG vaccine has a positive tuberculin skin test for the first time. The chest x-ray is clear and there are no symptoms. What does this most likely mean?

1. AActive TB, which needs airborne isolation
2. BLatent TB infection, which is not contagious
3. CImmunity to TB from a past exposure
4. DA failed test that must be repeated next year

Where should the dispersive (grounding) pad for electrosurgery be placed?

1. AOver a bony prominence such as the hip bone
2. BOn clean, dry skin over a well-perfused muscle, close to the surgical site
3. COver an area with scar tissue or a tattoo, so that the pad does not slip
4. DOn skin that is wet with antiseptic prep

A patient with a common cold asks for antibiotics “to be on the safe side”. Which response is best?

1. AExplain that antibiotics do not work on viruses and overuse breeds resistant bacteria
2. BSuggest using leftover antibiotics from a previous illness
3. CAsk the provider to prescribe antibiotics anyway so that the patient is reassured
4. DTell the patient that antibiotics will shorten the cold by several days

In a mass-casualty incident with limited resources, why may a critically injured patient with little chance of survival receive care after others?

1. ACritical patients are always treated last in every situation, even outside disasters
2. BPatients are treated in the order they arrive
3. CThe most severely injured are never given comfort care
4. DResources go first to those most likely to survive with treatment