LPN Standard Precautions and Transmission-Based Precautions 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A nurse is caring for a patient with RSV (respiratory syncytial virus). Which precautions are required?
- Airborne precautions only
- Contact precautions only
- Contact and droplet precautions (Correct answer)
- Standard precautions only
Correct answer: Contact and droplet precautions
RSV spreads via large respiratory droplets and direct contact with infected secretions, so both contact and droplet precautions are required.
Question 2: What is the correct order for REMOVING PPE (doffing) after leaving a patient's room?
- Mask, gloves, gown, eye protection
- Gloves, gown, eye protection, mask (Correct answer)
- Gown, gloves, mask, eye protection
- Eye protection, mask, gown, gloves
Correct answer: Gloves, gown, eye protection, mask
The CDC-recommended doffing order is gloves first (most contaminated), then gown, then eye protection, then mask last (least contaminated).
Question 3: A patient with an open, draining wound infected with MRSA is being transferred to a long-term care facility. What must the nurse do?
- No special action is needed if the wound is covered
- Notify the receiving facility about the patient's MRSA status (Correct answer)
- Place the patient in airborne precautions for transport
- Require the transport team to wear full hazmat suits
Correct answer: Notify the receiving facility about the patient's MRSA status
Healthcare facilities are required to communicate a patient's infection status (including MRSA) to receiving facilities to ensure continuity of appropriate infection control measures.
Question 4: Which of the following is classified as a 'critical item' requiring sterilization before reuse?
- Blood pressure cuffs
- Bedpans
- Surgical instruments (Correct answer)
- Stethoscopes
Correct answer: Surgical instruments
Surgical instruments are critical items that enter sterile tissue and must be sterilized (not just disinfected) before reuse to eliminate all microorganisms including spores.
Question 5: A patient with meningococcal meningitis is admitted. Which PPE must the nurse wear when providing direct care?
- Gloves and gown only
- N95 respirator and eye shield
- Surgical mask and gloves (Correct answer)
- Full airborne PPE with negative-pressure room
Correct answer: Surgical mask and gloves
Meningococcal meningitis requires droplet precautions; the nurse must wear a surgical mask when within 6 feet of the patient, along with gloves for direct contact.
Question 6: Under standard precautions, how should a nurse handle a patient's soiled linen?
- Place directly on the floor until transport
- Hold away from the body and place in a labeled linen bag at point of use (Correct answer)
- Shake out before placing in the linen bag to remove debris
- Only bag linen if it is visibly soiled with blood
Correct answer: Hold away from the body and place in a labeled linen bag at point of use
Soiled linen should be handled minimally, held away from the body to prevent contact with clothing, and bagged at the point of use without shaking to prevent dispersal of microorganisms.
Question 7: Which patient condition warrants protective (reverse) isolation?
- A patient with active pulmonary tuberculosis
- A patient who is severely immunocompromised after bone marrow transplant (Correct answer)
- A patient with influenza and a secondary bacterial infection
- A patient with a draining surgical wound
Correct answer: A patient who is severely immunocompromised after bone marrow transplant
Protective (reverse) isolation is used for severely immunocompromised patients (e.g., neutropenic, post-transplant) to protect them from environmental pathogens.
LPN Standard Precautions and Transmission-Based Precautions 4
A nurse is caring for a patient with RSV (respiratory syncytial virus).
Which precautions are required?