LPN Standard Precautions and Transmission-Based Precautions 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A patient is diagnosed with pulmonary tuberculosis. Which type of transmission-based precaution should be implemented?
- Contact precautions
- Droplet precautions
- Airborne precautions (Correct answer)
- Reverse isolation
Correct answer: Airborne precautions
Pulmonary TB is transmitted via small airborne particles (droplet nuclei) that remain suspended in air, requiring airborne precautions including a negative-pressure room and N95 respirator.
Question 2: Which action is correct when removing contaminated gloves?
- Pull both gloves off simultaneously by the fingertips
- Grasp the outside of one glove at the wrist and peel it off, then slide fingers under the remaining glove's cuff (Correct answer)
- Remove gloves finger by finger starting from the dominant hand
- Wash gloved hands first, then remove gloves
Correct answer: Grasp the outside of one glove at the wrist and peel it off, then slide fingers under the remaining glove's cuff
The correct technique avoids touching the contaminated outer surface by peeling the first glove off from the wrist and using the clean inner surface of the second glove to remove it.
Question 3: A nurse is caring for a patient on droplet precautions. What is the minimum distance at which a surgical mask must be worn?
- 1 foot
- 3 feet
- 6 feet (Correct answer)
- 10 feet
Correct answer: 6 feet
Droplet precautions require wearing a surgical mask when within 6 feet (about 2 meters) of the patient, as large respiratory droplets typically travel this distance.
Question 4: Which infection requires both airborne AND contact precautions?
- Influenza
- MRSA
- Varicella (chickenpox) (Correct answer)
- Clostridium difficile
Correct answer: Varicella (chickenpox)
Varicella (chickenpox) spreads via both airborne droplet nuclei and direct contact with vesicle fluid, requiring a combination of airborne and contact precautions.
Question 5: Standard precautions apply to which body fluids?
- Blood only
- Blood, body fluids, secretions, and excretions (except sweat) (Correct answer)
- Only visibly bloody fluids
- Saliva and respiratory secretions only
Correct answer: Blood, body fluids, secretions, and excretions (except sweat)
Standard precautions apply to blood, all body fluids, secretions, and excretions (except sweat), regardless of whether they contain visible blood.
Question 6: A patient has C. difficile diarrhea. Which hand hygiene method is most effective after caring for this patient?
- Alcohol-based hand rub
- Soap and water handwashing (Correct answer)
- Antiseptic hand wipes
- Either alcohol rub or soap and water are equally effective
Correct answer: Soap and water handwashing
Soap and water is required for C. difficile because alcohol-based hand rubs do not effectively kill C. difficile spores.
Question 7: Which PPE should the LPN don FIRST when entering a room requiring full contact and droplet precautions?
- Gloves
- Mask
- Gown (Correct answer)
- Eye protection
Correct answer: Gown
The gown is donned first to protect clothing before adding other PPE such as the mask, eye protection, and gloves.
LPN Standard Precautions and Transmission-Based Precautions 2
A patient is diagnosed with pulmonary tuberculosis.
Which type of transmission-based precaution should be implemented?