Infection Control Environmental Safety

Which situation should healthcare workers always wear gloves? When entering an airborne precaution room.

❌ No. Gloves are not required unless handling contaminated surfaces or bodily fluids.

Which situation should healthcare workers always wear gloves? When entering the room of an HIV-positive patient.

❌ No. HIV does not require gloves unless there's a risk of exposure to blood or fluids.

Which situation should healthcare workers always wear gloves? When taking a patient's vital signs.

❌ No. Vital signs don’t involve contact with fluids or broken skin.

Which situation should healthcare workers always wear gloves? When changing a baby’s diaper in the nursery.

✅ Yes. Diaper changes involve contact with urine and feces, requiring gloves under Standard Precautions.

You see flames in an empty patient room and another student activates the fire alarm. Should you rescue patients?

❌ No. The room is empty, no one is in danger.

You see flames in an empty patient room and another student activates the fire alarm. Should you activate the alarm?

❌ No. It’s already been activated.

You see flames in an empty patient room and another student activates the fire alarm. Should you evacuate the hospital?

❌ No. The fire is contained and evacuation is not necessary.

You see flames in an empty patient room and another student activates the fire alarm. Should you extinguish the fire?

❌ No. Only if trained and safe to do so.

You see flames in an empty patient room and another student activates the fire alarm. Should you confine the fire by shutting the door?

✅ Yes. This prevents the fire from spreading.

Brian needs to clean a chemical spill he’s unfamiliar with. Should he obtain the SDS sheet first?

✅ Yes. The SDS provides official cleanup procedures and safety info.

Brian needs to clean a chemical spill he’s unfamiliar with. Should he put on PPE first?

❌ No. He needs to know which PPE is appropriate.

Brian needs to clean a chemical spill he’s unfamiliar with. Should he contact his supervisor first?

❌ No. SDS is the first and most reliable source.

Brian needs to clean a chemical spill he’s unfamiliar with. Should he ask a coworker?

❌ No. Not a reliable or official source.

What is the correct order to doff PPE? Gloves first.

✅ Yes. Gloves are the most contaminated and should be removed first.

What is the correct order to doff PPE? Mask first.

❌ No. Mask is least contaminated and should be removed last.

What is the correct order to doff PPE? Gown before gloves.

❌ No. Gloves come off before gown.

What is the correct order to doff PPE? Goggles before gloves.

❌ No. Gloves are removed first to avoid contaminating other PPE.

Karla delivers a meal tray and moves items on the bedside table. Should she perform hand hygiene? Use alcohol-based hand rub.

✅ Yes. No contact with patient or fluids, so hand rub is sufficient.

Karla delivers a meal tray and moves items on the bedside table. Should she perform hand hygiene? None needed.

❌ No. She touched surfaces in the patient’s room.

Karla delivers a meal tray and moves items on the bedside table. Should she perform hand hygiene? Wash with antimicrobial soap.

❌ No. Overkill for this scenario.

Karla delivers a meal tray and moves items on the bedside table. Should she perform hand hygiene? Wash for two minutes.

❌ No. Not necessary unless exposed to contaminants.

What should you do to maintain good body mechanics while moving a heavy object? Push or pull instead of lifting.

✅ Yes. Reduces strain and uses stronger muscle groups.

What should you do to maintain good body mechanics while moving a heavy object? Bend from the waist.

❌ No. Increases injury risk.

What should you do to maintain good body mechanics while moving a heavy object? Keep feet close together.

❌ No. Reduces stability.

What should you do to maintain good body mechanics while moving a heavy object? Use back muscles.

❌ No. Risk of strain or injury.

What is an appropriate use of a disinfectant? Cleaning a wheelchair after patient use.

✅ Yes. Disinfectants are for non-living surfaces to kill microbes.

What is an appropriate use of a disinfectant? Cleaning surgical instruments.

❌ No. They require sterilization.

What is an appropriate use of a disinfectant? Cleaning hands before surgery.

❌ No. Use antiseptic, not disinfectant.

What is an appropriate use of a disinfectant? Cleaning skin before blood draw.

❌ No. Use antiseptic.

Who should wear eye goggles for protection? Dentist irrigating mouth after pulling a tooth.

✅ Yes. Risk of splash from blood and fluids.

Who should wear eye goggles for protection? Paramedic responding to a non-breathing patient.

❌ No. Goggles not required unless fluids are involved.

Who should wear eye goggles for protection? Nursing assistant taking blood pressure.

❌ No. No splash risk.

Who should wear eye goggles for protection? Pharmacist filling prescriptions.

❌ No. No exposure to fluids.

What PPE and precaution is needed for a patient with C-Diff? Contact Precautions + soap and water handwashing.

✅ Yes. Alcohol rub doesn’t kill C-Diff spores.

What PPE and precaution is needed for a patient with C-Diff? Droplet Precautions.

❌ No. C-Diff is not spread by droplets.

What PPE and precaution is needed for a patient with C-Diff? Airborne Precautions.

❌ No. C-Diff is not airborne.

What PPE and precaution is needed for a patient with C-Diff? Standard Precautions.

❌ No. Requires contact precautions.

What is the minimum handwashing time to kill microbes? 20 seconds.

✅ Yes. CDC recommends at least 20 seconds of scrubbing.

What is the minimum handwashing time to kill microbes? 10 seconds.

❌ No. Too short.

What is the minimum handwashing time to kill microbes? 60 seconds.

❌ No. Not required.

What is the minimum handwashing time to kill microbes? 1 second.

❌ No. Completely ineffective.

A nurse administers the COVID vaccine. What chain of infection link is broken? Susceptible host.

✅ Yes. Vaccines make the host resistant to infection.

A nurse administers the COVID vaccine. What chain of infection link is broken? Portal of entry.

❌ No. Vaccine doesn’t block entry.

A nurse administers the COVID vaccine. What chain of infection link is broken? Method of transmission.

❌ No. Doesn’t affect how disease spreads.

A nurse administers the COVID vaccine. What chain of infection link is broken? Pathogen.

❌ No. Vaccine doesn’t eliminate pathogen directly.

What best prevents wrong site surgeries? A “time out” in the operating room.

✅ Yes. Ensures correct site and procedure before starting.

What best prevents wrong site surgeries? Surgeon speaking to patient the day before.

❌ No. Doesn’t guarantee accuracy.

What best prevents wrong site surgeries? Family marking the site.

❌ No. Not reliable or official.

What best prevents wrong site surgeries? Nurse asking patient about surgery.

❌ No. Doesn’t confirm site.

What precaution is needed for a patient with influenza? Droplet Precautions.

✅ Yes. Flu spreads via large respiratory droplets.

What precaution is needed for a patient with influenza? Contact Precautions.

❌ No. Doesn’t address droplet transmission.

What precaution is needed for a patient with influenza? Airborne Precautions.

❌ No. Flu isn’t airborne.

What precaution is needed for a patient with influenza? Standard Precautions.

❌ No. Needs droplet control.

What is a patient safety goal in healthcare? Reducing medication errors.

✅ Yes. Prevents harm and improves outcomes.

What is a patient safety goal in healthcare? Increasing hospital revenue.

❌ No. Financial, not safety-related.

What is a patient safety goal in healthcare? Expanding hospital size.

❌ No. Infrastructure, not safety.

What is a patient safety goal in healthcare? Improving staff satisfaction.

❌ No. Important, but not a safety goal.

A nurse teaches proper food refrigeration. What chain of infection link is broken? Reservoir.

✅ Yes. Prevents bacteria from growing in food.

A nurse teaches proper food refrigeration. What chain of infection link is broken? Portal of entry.

❌ No. Doesn’t block entry.

A nurse teaches proper food refrigeration. What chain of infection link is broken? Pathogen.

❌ No. Doesn’t eliminate pathogen directly.

A nurse teaches proper food refrigeration. What chain of infection link is broken? Method of transmission.

❌ No. Doesn’t affect how disease spreads.

What is the purpose of using sterile techniques in medical procedures? To reduce the risk of introducing microorganisms.

✅ Yes. Sterile technique prevents contamination during procedures.

What is the purpose of using sterile techniques in medical procedures? To improve patient comfort.

❌ No. Comfort is not the goal of sterility.

What is the purpose of using sterile techniques in medical procedures? To make the procedure look more professional.

❌ No. Sterility is about safety, not appearance.

What is the purpose of using sterile techniques in medical procedures? To increase the speed of the procedure.

❌ No. Sterile technique may take longer but is safer.

Which statement about hand hygiene is true? Proper hand hygiene is the best way to prevent illness.

✅ Yes. It’s the most effective method to prevent infection.

Which statement about hand hygiene is true? Hands should be pointed up while rubbing.

❌ No. Hands should point down to avoid contamination.

Which statement about hand hygiene is true? Hands should be washed with hot water.

❌ No. Warm water is sufficient; hot water can irritate skin.

Which statement about hand hygiene is true? Use alcohol rub after caring for a C-Diff patient.

❌ No. C-Diff requires soap and water.

Which statement about hand hygiene is true? Use the same paper towel to turn off faucet.

❌ No. Use a clean towel to avoid recontamination.

Do protozoa cause ringworm and athlete’s foot?

❌ No. These are caused by fungi, not protozoa.

A nurse avoids a contaminated needle stick. What chain of infection link is broken? Portal of entry.

✅ Yes. Prevents pathogen from entering the body.

A nurse avoids a contaminated needle stick. What chain of infection link is broken? Reservoir.

❌ No. The pathogen source remains.

A nurse avoids a contaminated needle stick. What chain of infection link is broken? Pathogen.

❌ No. The pathogen still exists.

A nurse avoids a contaminated needle stick. What chain of infection link is broken? Portal of exit.

❌ No. This refers to how the pathogen leaves the host.

A nurse avoids a contaminated needle stick. What chain of infection link is broken? Method of transmission.

❌ No. This refers to how the pathogen spreads.

A nurse avoids a contaminated needle stick. What chain of infection link is broken? Susceptible host.

❌ No. The host remains susceptible.

Vaccines are used to break which part of the chain of infection? Susceptible host.

✅ Yes. Vaccines make the host resistant to infection.

Vaccines are used to break which part of the chain of infection? Mode of transmission.

❌ No. Vaccines don’t affect how diseases spread.

Vaccines are used to break which part of the chain of infection? Portal of exit.

❌ No. Vaccines don’t block pathogen exit.

Vaccines are used to break which part of the chain of infection? Portal of entry.

❌ No. Vaccines don’t block entry points.