Infection control & patient safety worksheet with answers

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

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

When should a nurse wash hands with soap and water rather than use an alcohol-based hand rub?

1. AAfter touching a patient’s bed rail
2. BWhen the hands are visibly soiled
3. CBefore every subcutaneous injection
4. DBefore putting on clean gloves

What is seclusion?

1. AKeeping a patient alone in a room or area that they are prevented from leaving
2. BPlacing a patient on contact precautions in a single room with the door closed
3. CMoving a patient to a private room at their request
4. DClosing the curtains during personal care

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

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

A confused patient keeps pulling at an IV line. Which is a less restrictive option to consider before wrist restraints?

1. AGiving a sedative every few hours
2. BTying both arms to the bed frame
3. CCovering the site with a sleeve or using hand mitts with supervision
4. DUsing a vest restraint in the chair so that the patient’s hands stay down

A small fire starts in a waste bin in a patient’s room while the patient is in bed. What does the nurse do first?

1. APhone the manager to report the fire
2. BRemove the patient from immediate danger
3. CGo and look for the nearest fire extinguisher
4. DOpen the windows to clear the smoke

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

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

Why can a patient with severe neutropenia have a serious infection but little redness, swelling or pus?

1. ANeutropenia makes infections stay limited to the skin
2. BChemotherapy kills the bacteria before they can multiply
3. CAntibiotics given with chemotherapy hide all signs of infection
4. DThere are too few neutrophils to produce the usual inflammatory signs