Infection Control Practice Questions
30 free Infection Control practice questions for the NCLEX Exam. Tap an option to answer — you get instant feedback, the correct answer, and a detailed explanation for every question.
What is the first action a nurse should perform to reduce infection risk when changing a patient's wound dressing?
- A Don sterile gloves after opening supplies.
- B Perform hand hygiene before touching supplies.
- C Choose larger dressing than required.
- D Clean the old dressing off with water only.
Correct answer: Perform hand hygiene before touching supplies.
Hand hygiene is the most important first step to break the chain of infection.
Which isolation precaution is required in addition to standard precautions for a patient diagnosed with Clostridioides difficile infection (C. diff)?
- A Droplet precautions only
- B Airborne precautions only
- C Contact precautions with gown and gloves
- D No extra precautions beyond standard
Correct answer: Contact precautions with gown and gloves
C. diff is spread via contact with spores; contact precautions (gown & gloves) are required.
What best describes the term 'asepsis'?
- A Use of antiseptics on skin only
- B Complete absence of all microorganisms including spores
- C Measures to prevent entry of microorganisms into the body
- D Cleaning equipment after every patient
Correct answer: Measures to prevent entry of microorganisms into the body
Asepsis refers to practices that reduce, prevent or eliminate microorganisms from entering the body.
What personal protective equipment (PPE) is most appropriate for a nurse before suctioning a patient's endotracheal tube?
- A A regular surgical mask and clean gloves are sufficient for this
- B Gown, gloves, an N95 respirator, and a face shield are required
- C Clean gloves alone provide adequate protection for this procedure
- D A gown and gloves without eye or respiratory protection are enough
Correct answer: Gown, gloves, an N95 respirator, and a face shield are required
Suctioning an endotracheal tube is an aerosol-producing procedure; full PPE including N95 and face shield are indicated.
What room requirement should a nurse verify for a patient placed into isolation for suspected airborne tuberculosis?
- A A private room with negative-pressure airflow and 6-12 air changes per hour
- B A private room with positive-pressure airflow to keep contaminants out
- C A shared room is acceptable as long as everyone entering wears a mask
- D A standard room with a window opened for natural cross-ventilation
Correct answer: A private room with negative-pressure airflow and 6-12 air changes per hour
Airborne isolation needs negative pressure rooms with adequate air changes/hour to prevent spread.
What should a nurse do after removal of gloves following a procedure?
- A Immediately put on a fresh pair of gloves before doing anything else
- B Discard the gloves in the trash and then perform hand hygiene
- C Skip hand hygiene since the gloves appeared clean during the procedure
- D Wipe the gloves down with an alcohol rub and reuse them if intact
Correct answer: Discard the gloves in the trash and then perform hand hygiene
Gloves can become contaminated; disposal plus hand hygiene is essential to infection control.
Which action best prevents a catheter-related bloodstream infection (CRBSI) for a patient with a central line (central venous catheter)?
- A Change the central line dressing on a fixed weekly schedule no matter what
- B Use sterile technique for dressing changes and assess the insertion site daily
- C Use non-sterile gloves when making line connection or tubing changes
- D Flush the line only on the days that intravenous medications are given
Correct answer: Use sterile technique for dressing changes and assess the insertion site daily
Sterile technique, daily site assessment, proper dressing changes reduce CRBSI risk significantly.
What isolation precautions should a nurse initiate for a patient with suspected Measles?
- A Standard only
- B Contact precautions
- C Droplet precautions
- D Airborne plus contact precautions
Correct answer: Airborne plus contact precautions
Measles is spread via airborne route and also direct contact; thus airborne + contact precautions.
What is the correct order for removing PPE after a patient contact with infectious risk?
- A Gloves → gown → mask/respirator → hand hygiene
- B Gown → gloves → mask → hand hygiene
- C Mask → gloves → gown → hand hygiene
- D Gloves → gown → eye protection → mask → hand hygiene
Correct answer: Gloves → gown → mask/respirator → hand hygiene
The typical sequence for doffing: gloves first (most contaminated), then gown, then mask/respirator/eye protection, then hand hygiene.
What infection control concept is violated when a staff member fails to disinfect the stethoscope between patients?
- A Standard precautions
- B Airborne precautions
- C Surgical asepsis
- D Patient teaching only
Correct answer: Standard precautions
Standard precautions include disinfection of equipment between patients to prevent cross-transmission of infection.
Which vaccine is most appropriate for healthcare workers to reduce the risk of a major blood-borne exposure infection?
- A Disregard it because infection control is solely the UAP's responsibility
- B Remind the UAP to perform hand hygiene and document the incident
- C Report the UAP to administration and recommend immediate termination
- D Simply document the observation in the record and take no further action
Correct answer: Remind the UAP to perform hand hygiene and document the incident
Hepatitis B is a blood-borne pathogen; vaccinating healthcare workers reduces the occupational risk.
What is the safest method for a nurse to dispose of a used needle?
- A Carefully recap the needle by hand before discarding it in the trash
- B Place the uncapped needle directly into a puncture-proof sharps container
- C Remove the syringe and flush the detached needle down the sink drain
- D Bend the needle to prevent reuse before disposing of it in the trash
Correct answer: Place the uncapped needle directly into a puncture-proof sharps container
Used needles must go directly into a puncture-proof sharps container without recapping or bending to prevent needlestick injury.
What is the correct action for a nurse to take when observing a UAP performing unsafe infection control practices?
- A Ignore it — it’s the UAP’s responsibility
- B Remind the UAP to perform hand hygiene and document the incident
- C Fire the UAP immediately
- D Just document the observation and do nothing
Correct answer: Remind the UAP to perform hand hygiene and document the incident
The nurse must intervene to correct infection risk behavior (hand hygiene) and document for patient safety.
Which microorganism requires specific disinfection techniques due to its spore-forming nature?
- A Staphylococcus aureus
- B Clostridioides difficile
- C Escherichia coli
- D Influenza virus
Correct answer: Clostridioides difficile
C. difficile forms spores that survive many disinfectants; special cleaning is needed.
What is the most appropriate nursing action for a patient with a Foley catheter suspected of having an infection?
- A Change the catheter on a fixed schedule every 3 days regardless of need
- B Remove it when no longer needed; keep a closed drainage system
- C Disconnect the drainage bag frequently to make patient mobility easier
- D Loop the drainage tubing above bladder level to keep it off the floor
Correct answer: Remove it when no longer needed; keep a closed drainage system
Best preventive measures: remove catheter when no longer needed, maintain a closed system, and keep bag below bladder level.
Which statement by a patient indicates a correct understanding of antibiotic-resistant organisms?
- A “It doesn’t matter when I stop the antibiotic as long as I feel better.”
- B “I’ll finish the full course of antibiotic even if I start feeling better.”
- C “I’ll double the next dose if this one is missed.”
- D “I’ll share the leftover antibiotics with my friend.”
Correct answer: “I’ll finish the full course of antibiotic even if I start feeling better.”
Completing the antibiotic course helps prevent resistance; stopping early contributes to antibiotic-resistant infections.
In which situation is the use of an alcohol-based hand rub not appropriate and hand-washing with soap and water is required?
- A Before patient contact
- B After removing gloves
- C When hands are visibly soiled with blood
- D After touching patient bedside equipment
Correct answer: When hands are visibly soiled with blood
When hands are visibly soiled (blood, body fluids), soap & water hand-washing is required rather than just ABHR.
What should a nurse do while waiting for a patient with confirmed Tuberculosis (TB) to be placed in a negative-pressure room?
- A Place the patient in a semi-private room shared with another TB patient
- B Have the patient and nurse wear a surgical mask and keep the door open
- C Use a private room, an N95 mask during transport, and limit transport
- D Take no special precautions until the negative-pressure room is ready
Correct answer: Use a private room, an N95 mask during transport, and limit transport
While waiting for the proper airborne room, a private room and limiting spread with a patient mask and nurse precautions are appropriate.
What action should a supervising nurse take upon observing a new graduate nurse's unsafe infection control practice?
- A Provide remedial education about infection control immediately
- B Wait until the end of the shift before mentioning the mistake
- C Ignore the incident and treat it as a minor, harmless error
- D Reprimand the new nurse publicly in front of the patient
Correct answer: Provide remedial education about infection control immediately
Immediate correction and education of unsafe infection control practice is required to ensure patient safety and staff competence.
Which isolation types are correct for a patient diagnosed with chicken-pox (varicella)?
- A Standard precautions only
- B Droplet precautions only
- C Airborne plus contact precautions
- D Contact plus enteric precautions
Correct answer: Airborne plus contact precautions
Varicella is spread via airborne (small droplets) and contact with vesicle fluid, so airborne + contact precautions apply.
What is the most effective way for a nurse to prevent the spread of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs)?
- A Administering prophylactic antibiotics
- B Practicing consistent hand hygiene before and after patient contact
- C Wearing sterile gloves at all times
- D Using disinfectant wipes on patient equipment once daily
Correct answer: Practicing consistent hand hygiene before and after patient contact
Hand hygiene is the single most effective method to prevent HAIs. It removes transient microorganisms and prevents their transmission between patients and surfaces.
Which type of isolation precaution is indicated for a patient with influenza?
- A Contact precautions only
- B Airborne precautions
- C Droplet precautions
- D Protective (neutropenic) isolation
Correct answer: Droplet precautions
Influenza spreads through large respiratory droplets, so droplet precautions are required, including a surgical mask and maintaining a 3-foot distance when possible.
When donning personal protective equipment (PPE), which item should the nurse put on first?
- A Gown
- B Mask
- C Gloves
- D Goggles
Correct answer: Gown
The gown is donned first to protect the uniform and body before handling other PPE, ensuring no contamination occurs during subsequent steps.
A nurse is caring for a patient with Clostridioides difficile. Which cleaning agent should be used to disinfect surfaces in the room?
- A Alcohol-based cleaner
- B Hydrogen peroxide solution
- C Soap and water only
- D Bleach-based disinfectant
Correct answer: Bleach-based disinfectant
C. difficile spores are resistant to alcohol-based cleaners; bleach-based disinfectants are necessary to kill spores effectively.
What is the correct action when removing gloves after a procedure?
- A Pull the glove off by grasping at the fingertips
- B Remove one glove and touch its outside with bare skin
- C Peel off one glove with the other gloved hand, then remove the second from inside the cuff
- D Shake both gloves off the hands at the same time
Correct answer: Peel off one glove with the other gloved hand, then remove the second from inside the cuff
Removing gloves using the glove-to-glove and skin-to-skin technique prevents contact with contaminated outer surfaces.
Which situation requires the nurse to perform handwashing with soap and water instead of using an alcohol-based hand rub?
- A After measuring a patient’s blood pressure
- B After removing gloves
- C After exposure to visible blood or body fluids
- D Before administering oral medications
Correct answer: After exposure to visible blood or body fluids
Soap and water are required when hands are visibly soiled or after exposure to body fluids to physically remove organic matter.
Which infection control measure should a nurse implement for a patient with active pulmonary tuberculosis?
- A Droplet precautions
- B Airborne precautions
- C Contact precautions
- D Standard precautions only
Correct answer: Airborne precautions
TB is transmitted through airborne particles, requiring an N95 respirator and placement in a negative-pressure room.
What action should a nurse take before inserting an indwelling urinary catheter?
- A Don sterile gloves without further preparation
- B Perform hand hygiene and maintain sterile technique
- C Clean the urethral area thoroughly with alcohol
- D Lay the equipment out on a clean bedside table
Correct answer: Perform hand hygiene and maintain sterile technique
Sterile technique and hand hygiene are essential to prevent catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs).
What is the most appropriate nursing intervention when a sharps container is three-quarters full?
- A Continue using until completely full
- B Empty it into another sharps container
- C Replace the container immediately
- D Compress sharps to create more space
Correct answer: Replace the container immediately
Overfilled sharps containers increase the risk of needlestick injuries; they should be replaced when three-quarters full.
Which statement by a patient indicates correct understanding of infection prevention after discharge?
- A I can reuse a wound dressing as long as it still looks clean to me.
- B I should wash my hands before and after changing my bandage.
- C I will change my bandage every other week.
- D I can stop the antibiotics as soon as I feel better.
Correct answer: I should wash my hands before and after changing my bandage.
Hand hygiene immediately before and after wound care is the single most effective step a patient can take to prevent contaminating the wound. Dressings are single-use, dressings are changed on the schedule prescribed rather than fortnightly, and a full antibiotic course is completed even once symptoms settle.