Infection control & patient safety worksheet with answers

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

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

How should a dose of half a milligram be written?

1. A0.5 mg
2. B1/2mg
3. C0.50 mg
4. D.5 mg

A patient is colonized with vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE). Which precautions are used?

1. AAirborne precautions
2. BDroplet precautions
3. CContact precautions
4. DProtective (reverse) isolation

Why are blood cultures usually taken from two separate venipuncture sites?

1. ATo help tell a true infection from skin contamination
2. BTo make the results come back faster from the laboratory
3. CBecause each site tests a different antibiotic
4. DTo reduce the total amount of blood taken

An adult with hepatitis A is incontinent of stool. Which precautions are used?

1. AA protective environment with filtered air
2. BDroplet precautions with a surgical mask
3. CAirborne precautions in a negative-pressure room with the door closed
4. DContact precautions in addition to standard precautions

A portable x-ray is taken at the bedside. Which action protects the nurse?

1. AStay close to the patient to keep them still without protection
2. BStep away from the patient or wear a lead apron during the exposure
3. CLook directly at the x-ray tube during the exposure to check its position
4. DStand next to the patient and hold the film without protection

A handwritten order is hard to read, and the nurse is not sure of the drug name. What should the nurse do?

1. AAsk a colleague to guess what it says
2. BHold the drug until the next day without telling anyone
3. CContact the prescriber to clarify before giving anything
4. DChoose the drug that seems most likely from the diagnosis

In US nursing practice, which task should the RN not assign to an LPN/LVN?

1. AReinforcing hand hygiene teaching that the RN has already given
2. BThe initial admission assessment of a new patient with suspected sepsis
3. CGiving scheduled oral antibiotics to a stable patient
4. DA dressing change on a healing surgical wound that has no signs of infection