Deck 13: Infection Control

Question 1

What do most microbes need in order to live? Select all that apply.

A) Warmth
B) Moisture
C) Darkness
D) Oxygen
E) Protein

Answer 1

Warmth
Moisture
Darkness
Oxygen

Question 2

Which is an example of a specific defense mechanism?

A) Good oral hygiene
B) Healthy, intact skin
C) The production of antibodies
D) Healthy, moist mucous membranes

Answer 2

The production of antibodies

Question 3

Which is an example of a nonspecific defense mechanism?

A) Keeping skin clean and dry
B) Getting an annual flu shot
C) The production of antibodies
D) Recovering from an episode of measles

Answer 3

Keeping skin clean and dry

Question 4

The nursing assistant is caring for a resident who needs to use the bathroom and suddenly begins acting strangely. The resident states, "Why are there so many children in the strawberry patch?" and is stepping and staggering over large areas on the floor. The nursing assistant observes the resident has a nonraised red rash. Which action should the nursing assistant take first?

A) Tell the nurse about the unusual change in behavior and have the nurse assess the resident.
B) Help the resident to the toilet and observe the color, odor, and consistency of the urine.
C) Take a set of vital signs and report any unusual changes from the resident's baseline.
D) Observe the extent of the rash and report all the areas on the body affected to the nurse.

Question 5

Which could be considered a portal of entry for pathogens? Select all that apply.

A) The mucous membranes of the eyes
B) An open wound in the skin
C) The respiratory tract
D) Food
E) Water

Question 6

Who is least likely to be a susceptible host?

A) A young child
B) An older adult
C) A vaccinated young adult
D) An emotionally stressed teen

Question 7

Which action(s) breaks the chain of infection? Select all that apply.

A) Getting a flu shot
B) Washing hands after using the toilet
C) Taking antibiotics as directed by the doctor
D) Leaving an infected wound open to the air
E) Wearing gloves when handling soiled linen

Question 8

The purpose of an antiseptic agent is to:

A) remove transient flora from the skin.
B) prepare surgical instruments.
C) sterilize hypodermic needles.
D) disinfect bedpans.

Question 9

Which is the best action the nursing assistant should take to prevent a nosocomial infection in a hospitalized client?

A) Wear gloves before providing perineal care and cleaning around an indwelling urinary catheter.
B) Follow the transmission-based precautions that are posted for a community-acquired infection.
C) Wash hands with soap and water when there is visible contamination and use alcohol-based hand sanitizer in between.
D) Have visitors wear a mask and wash their hands following the transmission-based precautions posted.

Question 10

The nursing assistant observes a first-time student nurse washing their hands. The student turns on the faucet to warm water, wets their hands with fingers upward, applies soap and lathers it for 20 seconds using a circular motion cleansing in between fingers and under nails, and holding the fingers upward rinses the hands and dries the hands with a towel and turns off the faucet with the same towel. What action should the nursing assistant take?

A) Take no further action because the student nurse performed handwashing correctly.
B) Show the posted directions for handwashing and ask the student nurse to follow it and try again.
C) Discuss with the student nurse that the fingers need to be pointed downward and use a separate dry towel to turn off the faucet.
D) Explain that after handwashing, using lotion to keep the skin supple is needed.

Question 11

The nursing assistant is caring for a client in transmission-based isolation with droplet precautions. The assistant should perform which of the following steps first when leaving the client's room?

A) Untie top strings of mask.
B) Untie bottom strings of mask.
C) Remove gloves.
D) Perform handwashing.

Question 12

Standard precautions are required whenever:

A) the nursing assistant is providing care to any person.
B) the nursing assistant is providing care to a person with a fever.
C) the client has a disease that is transmitted through the air.
D) the client has a disease that is transmitted through direct contact.

Question 13

The nursing assistant is caring for hospitalized clients who receive blood. Which action is best to prevent the assistant from developing a hepatitis B infection?

A) Receive the hepatitis B vaccine after being exposed to the client's blood via an accidental needlestick.
B) Using handwashing after receiving a bite on the back of the hand from a confused client who is a carrier of hepatitis B.
C) Having the series of hepatitis B immunizations prior to a possible exposure to infected secretions or blood.
D) Ask to have the postexposure plan and treatment soon after coming in contact with the client's blood.

Question 14

Which disease process is caused by a bloodborne pathogen?

A) Measles
B) Tuberculosis (TB)
C) Hepatitis B virus (HBV)
D) Hepatitis A virus (HAV)

Question 15

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) can be transmitted by: (Select all that apply.)

A) a cut from contaminated glass.
B) a contaminated needlestick injury.
C) direct contact with contaminated blood.
D) touching the skin of an infected client.
E) contact with infected vaginal secretions.

Question 16

Blood spills are cleaned up by:

A) vacuuming up the blood spill with a special hose.
B) using a roll of dry paper towels to absorb the blood.
C) washing the area with lots of hot, soapy disinfectant water.
D) washing with a solution of 1-part household bleach and 10-parts water.

Question 17

The nursing assistant observing the resident using handwashing and an alcohol-based hand rub should intervene at which of the following incidents? The resident:

A) uses alcohol-based hand rub before applying their soft contacts.
B) washes their hands after gardening in the courtyard.
C) uses alcohol-based hand rub after exiting an elevator.
D) washes their hands before applying eye makeup.

Question 18

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) leads to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) by:

A) causing end-stage liver failure.
B) infecting the lungs, leading to death.
C) making copies of itself in the digestive tract.
D) damaging the body's ability to fight off infections.

Question 19

The nursing assistant is caring for a client diagnosed with tuberculosis (TB) needing to go to the radiology department for a necessary diagnostic test that cannot be done in the client's room. Place the steps followed by the nursing assistant in the correct order.

A) Apply mask to self.
B) Remove mask from self.
C) Apply separate mask to client.
D) Wash hands.

Question 20

After shaving a resident with a disposable razor, it should be disposed of in the:

A) box from where it was removed.
B) resident's bathroom trash can.
C) OSHA-approved container.
D) unit's dirty utility room.

Question 21

The nursing assistant is caring for a client in "transmission-based: contact" precautions and needs to remove the contaminated items from the room following the policy for double bagging. The clean assistant outside the room is helping. When should the nursing assistant intervene and stop the process?

A) The clean assistant has gloved hands under a cuff on the second bag.
B) The assistant in the room observes the bag in the room has split.
C) The assistant in the room is wearing a gown and gloves.
D) The clean assistant has the tie to place on the double bag.

Question 22

The nursing assistant is caring for a resident newly diagnosed with influenza. What action should the nurse take to help prevent the spread of the illness to other residents?

A) Provide a receptacle for the resident to place used tissues.
B) Ask the resident to wash their hands before going to activities.
C) Remind the resident to cover their cough or sneeze using a tissue.
D) Explain the need to get immunized with the influenza vaccine each year.

Question 23

The nursing assistant is caring for a hospitalized client in contact precautions and observes another client from another room is visiting their neighbor. The other client is sitting on the client's bed and sharing cake with the client in isolation. What is the best action for the nursing assistant to take?

A) Assist the visiting client to follow the precautions.
B) Report the observation to the nurse right away.
C) Ask the visiting client to return to their room.
D) Take no action because the client has been on antibiotics.

Question 24

The person at greatest risk for tuberculosis (TB) infection is:

A) a 10-year-old child living in a foster group home.
B) one living in a suburban area with poor sanitation facilities.
C) a salesman who travels frequently to developing countries.
D) one diagnosed with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS).

Question 25

How does healthy, unbroken skin prevent infections from occurring?

A) Pathogens can't live in healthy skin.
B) The moisture on healthy skin kills most pathogens.
C) Healthy skin keeps pathogens from entering the body.
D) Healthy skin is an indication of a healthy immune system.

Question 26

What responsibility does the health care facility's administration have to the nursing assistants providing client care?

A) Supplying the needed care equipment
B) Providing them with health care benefits
C) Offering holiday and vacation time off
D) Furnishing the appropriate work uniforms

Question 27

A resident being cared for by a nursing assistant is on contact precautions. The nursing assistant will:

A) wear a mask whenever providing care for the resident.
B) put on a gown whenever feeding the resident.
C) double bag the resident's used linen.
D) be fitted with a special mask.

Question 28

The nursing assistant is most concerned when it is determined that several older residents have been diagnosed with Clostridium difficile (C. diff) because:

A) they will likely experience diarrhea.
B) it can be fatal for some older residents.
C) it is not easily killed and grows very rapidly.
D) the bacteria can be easily spread among the residents.

Question 29

The nursing assistant is caring for a client who has night sweats and productive cough raising blood-tinged purulent sputum and who was later diagnosed with tuberculosis (TB). What step should the nursing assistant take next?

A) Have a specialized skin test to determine if exposed to the infection.
B) Have a chest x-ray immediately to determine the extent of the TB infection.
C) Provide sputum for analysis of the tuberculin bacteria.
D) Begin medications to prevent the TB infection from occurring.