Finals Prep A

Question 1

What is asepsis?

Answer 1

The absence of illness-producing microorganisms.

Question 2

What is medical asepsis?

Answer 2

Practices that reduce the number, growth, and spread of microorganisms (clean technique).

Question 3

What is surgical asepsis?

Answer 3

Practices that eliminate all microorganisms and prevent contamination (sterile technique).

Question 4

Which tasks require medical asepsis?

Answer 4

Oral medications, NG tube care, personal hygiene, routine nursing care.

Question 5

Which tasks require surgical asepsis?

Answer 5

Sterile dressing changes, urinary catheter insertion, parenteral medications.

Question 6

What is the most important behavior for preventing infection?

Answer 6

Hand hygiene.

Question 7

What are the three components of handwashing?

Answer 7

Soap, running water, and friction.

Question 8

When must soap and water be used instead of alcohol-based hand rub?

Answer 8

When hands are visibly soiled, after body fluids, before eating, after restroom use, and with C. difficile.

Question 9

Why is alcohol-based hand rub ineffective against spores?

Answer 9

Alcohol does not destroy spore-forming organisms.

Question 10

When should hand hygiene be performed?

Answer 10

Before and after every client contact and after removing gloves.

Question 11

How long should routine handwashing last?

Answer 11

At least 15 seconds.

Question 12

How long should handwashing last when hands are heavily soiled?

Answer 12

Up to 2 minutes.

Question 13

Why should warm water be used instead of hot water?

Answer 13

Hot water increases skin irritation and dryness.

Question 14

How should faucets be turned off after handwashing?

Answer 14

Using a clean, dry paper towel.

Question 15

When should alcohol-based hand rub be used?

Answer 15

When hands are not visibly soiled.

Question 16

Why must latex allergies be assessed before aseptic procedures?

Answer 16

Latex exposure can cause severe allergic reactions.

Question 17

What gloves are commonly used to avoid latex reactions?

Answer 17

Non-latex (nitrile) gloves.

Question 18

What is respiratory hygiene?

Answer 18

Covering mouth and nose, disposing tissues, masking, and hand hygiene.

Question 19

What distance should be maintained from a coughing client?

Answer 19

At least 3 feet.

Question 20

Why should jewelry be removed during patient care?

Answer 20

Jewelry harbors microorganisms.

Question 21

Why are artificial nails discouraged in healthcare?

Answer 21

They harbor microorganisms and increase infection risk.

Question 22

What is the purpose of PPE?

Answer 22

To prevent spread of microorganisms.

Question 23

Why should items never be placed on the floor?

Answer 23

The floor is grossly contaminated.

Question 24

Why should linens not be shaken?

Answer 24

Shaking spreads microorganisms into the air.

Question 25

What areas should be cleaned first?

Answer 25

Least soiled areas.

Question 26

Why are moist soiled items placed in plastic bags?

Answer 26

To prevent leakage and contamination.

Question 27

How should body fluids be disposed of?

Answer 27

Carefully poured into drains or toilets at water level.

Question 28

What contaminates a sterile field over time?

Answer 28

Prolonged exposure to airborne microorganisms.

Question 29

What actions contaminate a sterile field?

Answer 29

Turning back, moisture, holding items below waist or above chest.

Question 30

Why is moisture dangerous to a sterile field?

Answer 30

Wicking allows microorganisms to travel.

Question 31

What items may be placed in a sterile field?

Answer 31

Only sterile items.

Question 32

Why is the 1-inch border of a sterile field contaminated?

Answer 32

Edges are exposed to air and handling.

Question 33

What happens if a sterile item touches the border?

Answer 33

It is considered contaminated.

Question 34

What level must sterile items be kept?

Answer 34

Above waist and below chest level.

Question 35

Why should you never reach over a sterile field?

Answer 35

Microorganisms can fall by gravity.

Question 36

Why should you never turn your back on a sterile field?

Answer 36

Loss of visual control contaminates the field.

Question 37

How far above a sterile field should items be held when adding them?

Answer 37

At least 6 inches.

Question 38

What happens if a sterile wrapper becomes wet?

Answer 38

It becomes contaminated.

Question 39

What should be done with torn or wet sterile packages?

Answer 39

Discard them.

Question 40

What is the first step before setting up a sterile field?

Answer 40

Perform hand hygiene.

Question 41

Where should a sterile field be set up?

Answer 41

On a clean surface above waist level.

Question 42

Why must expiration dates on sterile packages be checked?

Answer 42

Expired items may not be sterile.

Question 43

What indicates proper sterilization on chemical tape?

Answer 43

A visible color change.

Question 44

Why should a waste receptacle be nearby during sterile procedures?

Answer 44

To maintain sterility and efficiency.

Question 45

Which flap of a sterile package is opened first?

Answer 45

The flap farthest from the body.

Question 46

Why is the far flap opened first?

Answer 46

To avoid reaching over the sterile field.

Question 47

How should sterile solutions be poured?

Answer 47

Without splashing and without touching the container.

Question 48

Why is the label held in the palm when pouring sterile solution?

Answer 48

To prevent solution from running down the label.

Question 49

Why is a small amount of sterile solution poured out first?

Answer 49

To cleanse the bottle lip.

Question 50

How long are some sterile solutions usable after opening?

Answer 50

Up to 24 hours depending on facility policy.

Question 51

What must be done after opening sterile solution if policy requires single use?

Answer 51

Discard after one use.

Question 52

What is the first step in donning sterile gloves?

Answer 52

Pick up the dominant glove by the cuff.

Question 53

Which hand is used to pick up the dominant glove?

Answer 53

The nondominant hand.

Question 54

How is the nondominant glove donned?

Answer 54

Using the sterile dominant hand.

Question 55

What can sterile gloves touch?

Answer 55

Only sterile items or other sterile gloves.

Question 56

How are sterile gloves removed?

Answer 56

By turning them inside out without touching skin.

Question 57

What is the chain of infection?

Answer 57

A sequence of events required for infection to occur.

Question 58

What is the first link in the chain of infection?

Answer 58

Causative agent.

Question 59

What is a reservoir?

Answer 59

Where the pathogen lives and multiplies.

Question 60

What is a portal of exit?

Answer 60

How the pathogen leaves the host.

Question 61

What is mode of transmission?

Answer 61

How the pathogen spreads.

Question 62

What is a portal of entry?

Answer 62

How the pathogen enters a new host.

Question 63

What is a susceptible host?

Answer 63

A person at risk for infection.

Question 64

What breaks the chain of infection?

Answer 64

Interrupting any one of the links.

Question 65

What is an HAI?

Answer 65

An infection acquired in a healthcare setting.

Question 66

What was the former name for HAIs?

Answer 66

Nosocomial infections.

Question 67

What is the most common site of HAIs?

Answer 67

Urinary tract.

Question 68

What organisms commonly cause UTIs in HAIs?

Answer 68

E. coli, Staphylococcus aureus, enterococci.

Question 69

What is an iatrogenic infection?

Answer 69

An infection caused by medical treatment.

Question 70

What is innate immunity?

Answer 70

Nonspecific immunity present at birth.

Question 71

What is adaptive immunity?

Answer 71

Specific immunity developed after exposure.

Question 72

What is passive immunity?

Answer 72

Temporary immunity from external antibodies.

Question 73

What is active immunity?

Answer 73

Permanent immunity produced by the body.

Question 74

What cells are involved in adaptive immunity?

Answer 74

B and T lymphocytes.

Question 75

What are immunoglobulins?

Answer 75

Antibodies produced by the immune system.

Question 76

What are the stages of infection?

Answer 76

Incubation, prodromal, illness, decline, convalescence.

Question 77

What occurs during incubation?

Answer 77

Time from exposure to first symptoms.

Question 78

What occurs during prodromal stage?

Answer 78

General symptoms begin.

Question 79

What occurs during illness stage?

Answer 79

Specific symptoms are present.

Question 80

What occurs during decline stage?

Answer 80

Symptoms begin to subside.

Question 81

What occurs during convalescence?

Answer 81

Recovery occurs.