Infection control & patient safety worksheet with answers

Which type of knot is used to secure the straps of a restraint?

1. AA square knot
2. BA quick-release knot
3. CA tight double knot
4. DA knot tied on the patient’s wrist

A nurse cannot get a good seal with an N95 respirator because of a beard. Which device can be used instead?

1. ATwo surgical masks worn together
2. BA washable cloth face mask worn over the beard
3. CA powered air-purifying respirator (PAPR)
4. DA standard surgical mask

Surgical instruments that enter sterile tissue are “critical” items. Which processing do they need before reuse?

1. ALow-level disinfection
2. BCleaning with detergent and water only
3. CSterilization
4. DHigh-level disinfection

Why are independent double checks used for some medicines, such as insulin and heparin infusions?

1. ATo make the preparation process faster
2. BBecause these drugs are very expensive to waste
3. CA second person checking separately catches missed errors
4. DTo share responsibility between two nurses if an error happens

How tight should a wrist restraint be?

1. ALoose enough for the patient’s hand to slip out
2. BTight enough to slow the pulse at the wrist
3. CAs tight as possible so the patient cannot move the arm
4. DLoose enough to fit two fingers between the restraint and the skin

Where should the drainage bag of an indwelling urinary catheter be kept?

1. AHung on the IV pole above the patient
2. BOn the floor under the bed, where it is out of the way
3. CBelow the level of the bladder and off the floor
4. DOn the bed next to the patient’s hip

A visitor is receiving an electric shock from a faulty lamp and is still touching it. What should the nurse do first?

1. ASwitch off the power or unplug the lamp without touching the person
2. BPull the visitor away from the lamp by the arm as quickly as possible
3. CStart chest compressions straight away
4. DThrow water over the lamp to stop the current

According to the “Swiss cheese” model of error, why do errors reach patients?

1. ATechnology fails more often than people do
2. BOne careless person makes a mistake that no system could stop
3. CWeaknesses in several layers of defense line up at the same time
4. DPatients often do not follow their care instructions