Infection control & patient safety worksheet with answers

How long should an alcohol-based hand rub be rubbed into the hands?

1. AAbout 2–3 seconds
2. BAt least 5 minutes
3. COnly until the rub has covered the palms
4. DAbout 20–30 seconds, until the hands are dry

Which item is “non-critical” and needs only cleaning and low-level disinfection between patients?

1. AA set of surgical forceps
2. BA central venous catheter
3. CA flexible gastroscope
4. DA blood pressure cuff

In The Joint Commission’s (US) terminology, what is a sentinel event?

1. AAn expected side effect that was explained to the patient
2. BAn unexpected event causing death or serious physical or psychological harm
3. CA minor error that reaches the patient but causes no harm of any kind at all
4. DAn error that is caught before it reaches the patient

When walking with axillary crutches, where should the patient’s weight be taken?

1. AOn the shoulders, with the crutches pressed upward
2. BOn the hands, with the crutch tops a few finger widths below the armpits
3. COn the elbows, kept bent at a right angle with the crutch tops tucked under the arms
4. DOn the armpits, resting on the crutch tops

Before a defibrillator shock is delivered, what must the person operating it do?

1. AHold the patient’s hand to keep them still
2. BAsk a colleague to hold the paddles in place
3. CCall “all clear” and check that nobody is touching the patient or bed
4. DKeep the oxygen mask on the patient’s face, held against the chest

A nurse finds a used needle in a patient’s bed linen. What should the nurse do?

1. APick it up by the hub or with forceps, put it in a sharps container and report it
2. BLeave it where it is for the housekeeping staff to remove later in the day
3. CFold it into the linen and send it to the laundry
4. DRecap it with two hands before throwing it away

A patient given naloxone for an opioid overdose wakes up. An hour later, the patient is drowsy again with slow breathing. What is the likely reason?

1. AThe patient is simply tired after the event
2. BNaloxone itself causes slow breathing and drowsiness once it has been given
3. CThe patient is now allergic to naloxone
4. DNaloxone wears off sooner than many opioids, so the opioid effect returns

A nurse discovers that an insulin infusion was programmed using the wrong drug concentration in the pump library. What should the nurse do first?

1. AStop the infusion and check the patient’s blood glucose
2. BLeave it running and check the glucose at the next routine time
3. CReprogram the pump and finish the shift before reporting
4. DDouble the rate to correct for the error