Unit 1: Chapter 27,28: Patient Safety and Infection Control Flashcards
(21 cards)
You are working in a med-surg unit caring for a 78-year-old female post-hip surgery. She is on opioids for pain, uses a urinary catheter, and is on contact precautions for MRSA.
.
Match each link in the chain of infection with an example:
Chain Link Example
Infectious Agent ☐ Staphylococcus aureus
Reservoir ☐ Contaminated urinary catheter
Portal of Exit ☐ Wound drainage
Mode of Transmission ☐ Unwashed hands of healthcare worker
Portal of Entry ☐ IV insertion site
Susceptible Host ☐ Elderly patient with diabetes
Infectious Agent = Staph, Reservoir = catheter, Exit = drainage, Transmission = hands, Entry = IV site, Host = diabetic patient
Which practices are part of Standard Precautions? (Select all that apply)
A. Hand hygiene before and after patient contact
B. Wearing gloves when touching mucous membranes
C. Using gown and gloves for all surgical patients
D. Safe injection practices
E. Masking all patients at all times
A, B, D
Standard precautions include hand hygiene, PPE based on exposure, and safe injection practices.
[ Select ] is the most effective method to prevent the spread of infection.
Options:
Wearing a mask
Using sterile gloves
Performing hand hygiene
Double gloving
Performing hand hygiene
It’s the most effective infection control strategy.
Match each type of precaution with the appropriate condition:
Precaution Type Condition
Contact Precautions ☐ MRSA, VRE
Droplet Precautions ☐ Influenza, mumps
Airborne Precautions ☐ TB, measles
Protective Environment ☐ Stem cell transplant recipient
Contact = MRSA, Droplet = Influenza, Airborne = TB, Protective = Stem cell patients
Which situation requires airborne precautions?
A. Patient with HIV
B. Patient with pneumonia
C. Patient with disseminated herpes zoster
D. Patient with C. difficile
C
Airborne precautions are needed for herpes zoster if disseminated.
Which interventions prevent catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs)? (Select all that apply)
A. Maintain closed drainage system
B. Insert catheter for convenience
C. Hand hygiene before handling catheter
D. Keep bag below bladder level
E. Routinely change tubing every shift
A, C, D
Closed systems, hygiene, and gravity drainage prevent CAUTIs.
Place in order the correct sequence for applying PPE:
☐ Perform hand hygiene
☐ Apply gloves
☐ Put on gown
☐ Apply mask or respirator
☐ Apply eye protection
Hand hygiene → Gown → Mask → Eye protection → Gloves
Match each natural defense with its function:
Defense Mechanism Function
Skin ☐ Physical barrier
Normal flora ☐ Competes with pathogens
Inflammation ☐ Destroys microbes and initiates healing
Skin = barrier, Flora = competes, Inflammation = response to injury
The WHO’s 5 Moments for Hand Hygiene include: before touching a patient, before a clean procedure, after body fluid exposure, after touching a patient, and after touching __________.
patient surroundings
Last of the 5 WHO moments
Which assessment tool is best for determining fall risk in hospitalized patients?
A. Wong-Baker Pain Scale
B. Morse Fall Scale
C. Glasgow Coma Scale
D. Braden Scale
B
Morse Fall Scale is widely used for fall risk assessment.
To maintain a sterile field, the nurse should consider the [ Select ] edge as contaminated.
Options:
0.5-inch
1-inch
2-inch
None
1-inch – The outer inch of sterile field is considered contaminated.
Which environmental modifications help prevent falls? (Select all that apply)
A. Low bed position
B. Remove loose rugs
C. Bright lighting
D. Wheels unlocked on bed
E. Coiled tubing near feet
A, B, C
Rugs and poor lighting increase falls; unlock wheels = unsafe
Match each type of exudate with its characteristic:
Exudate Type Description
Serous ☐ Clear, watery
Sanguineous ☐ Bright red, indicates active bleeding
Purulent ☐ Thick, yellow, green, or brown with odor
Serous = clear, Sanguineous = red/bloody, Purulent = pus/infection
Which item indicates contamination of a sterile field?
A. Moisture on a sterile drape
B. Gloves applied after hand hygiene
C. Items added using sterile forceps
D. Sterile solution poured from 1 inch above
A
Moisture compromises sterility of the field.
Match the assessment focus with its safety implication:
Focus Implication
Cognitive status ☐ Affects ability to follow safety instructions
Emotional factors ☐ Influences treatment compliance
Social support ☐ Influences discharge planning and home safety
Cognition = safety understanding, Emotion = adherence, Support = transition
Which are evidence-based alternatives to physical restraints? (Select all that apply)
A. Diversional activities
B. Hourly rounding
C. Applying all side rails
D. Using bed/chair alarms
E. Removing glasses at night
A, B, D – Non-restraint interventions include alarms, rounding, activities
A patient with C. difficile infection must wash hands with ________ and water instead of alcohol-based hand rubs.
soap
Alcohol does not kill C. difficile spores
After a needlestick injury, the nurse should [ Select ] immediately.
Options:
File a HIPAA complaint
Wash the area with soap and water
Seek counseling
Ignore and finish the shift
Wash with soap and water
First response to sharps exposure
Which practice best helps prevent surgical site infections?
A. Use of cloth gowns
B. Maintaining normothermia
C. Delayed antibiotic administration
D. Wearing sterile gloves only
B
Normothermia reduces post-op infection risk
Which patients are at increased infection risk? (Select all that apply)
A. A 30-year-old marathon runner
B. A 6-month-old infant
C. An older adult with diabetes
D. A patient with leukemia
E. A patient receiving chemotherapy
B, C, D, E
Age, chronic illness, and immunosuppression raise infection risk
