Special Infection Topics

1. Mr. Alvarez, a 59-year-old man with leukemia, is admitted for chemotherapy. His white blood cell count is extremely low. The nurse assigns him to a private room and posts a sign reading “Protective Precautions.” Which action is most appropriate to reduce infection risk? *

Ensure visitors with colds wear masks and gloves

Encourage fresh flowers to improve the room’s atmosphere

Avoid bringing any fresh fruits or plants into the room

Allow the patient to ambulate freely in the hallway

2. During a busy shift, an LPN administers insulin to a diabetic resident. She finishes the injection and places the used needle on the bedside table to discard later. What infection control principle has been violated? *

Needles can be reused safely if the same patient is treated

Bedside disposal allows easy access for staff

Tabletop storage prevents contamination of the sharps bin

Delayed disposal increases the risk of accidental needle-stick injury

3. In a long-term care facility, an LPN observes that several residents share the same nail clippers and hairbrush. One resident recently developed a fungal nail infection. What is the best nursing action? *

Clean shared items with alcohol after each use

Label shared items with residents’ initials

Educate staff and residents that personal care items must not be shared

Store items together to save space

4. A 5-year-old child hospitalized for pneumonia needs IV therapy. The child becomes frightened when the nurse opens a sterile pack. The nurse removes gloves to comfort him, then resumes IV insertion with the same equipment. What infection control breach occurred? *

Delaying IV insertion unnecessarily

Failing to use distraction techniques

Allowing parental presence during procedures

Breaking sterile technique by touching equipment without re-gloving

5. An LPN working in a dialysis center observes that a new staff member reuses a tourniquet on multiple patients without cleaning it. What should the LPN do first? *

Replace the tourniquet later without mentioning the incident

Ignore it since the tourniquet rarely contacts blood

Stop the procedure and remind the staff member to use a clean tourniquet

Report it directly to the infection control nurse after the shift

6. An LPN provides wound care for a client at home. The client’s cat frequently jumps onto the bed during the procedure. What should the LPN do? *

Continue care since it’s the client’s home environment

Place sterile supplies on the bed next to the cat

Allow the pet nearby for emotional comfort

Ask the client to keep pets away during wound care to maintain a clean field

7. The LPN notes that three residents in the same hallway have developed diarrhea within 24 hours. What is the LPN’s first action? *

Report the situation to the nurse in charge for further investigation

Collect stool samples from each resident immediately

Increase fluid intake for all residents

Clean all rooms using disinfectant before reporting

8. While performing a blood draw, the LPN accidentally pricks her finger with a used needle. What is the immediate nursing action? *

Cover the wound and continue working

Wash the area with soap and water and report the incident

Apply alcohol and continue the procedure

Wait to report until the end of the shift

9. A patient with severe second-degree burns is admitted to the burn unit. The nurse notes an order for strict aseptic technique during dressing changes. Why is this precaution necessary? *

Burn wounds cannot be infected because they are sterile

It prevents cross-contamination only from staff clothing

Burn patients are highly susceptible to infection due to skin barrier loss

It is mainly to protect staff from exposure to fluids

Match the situation with the appropriate precaution or action. *

Patient with leukemia on chemotherapy

Multiple residents with diarrhea in Long Term Care

Accidental needle-stick injury

Burn patient with open wounds

Resident sharing personal care tools