ATI RN
Infection Prevention and Control NCLEX Questions Questions
Question 1 of 5
A college-aged student has influenza. At what stage of the infection is the student most infectious?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: Prodromal stage. During this stage, the student experiences early symptoms like fever and fatigue, and viral shedding is high, making them most infectious. In contrast, during the incubation period (A), the virus is replicating but symptoms are not yet present. In the full stage of illness (C), symptoms are pronounced but infectiousness may decrease. In the convalescent period (D), the student is recovering and viral shedding decreases, reducing infectivity.
Question 2 of 5
Which statement is true of health care personnel and good hand hygiene?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B because compliance with hand hygiene among health care personnel can be challenging due to various factors such as time constraints, forgetfulness, and lack of awareness. This is supported by research showing that many health care workers struggle to consistently adhere to proper hand hygiene protocols. A is incorrect because hand hygiene is often not consistently followed by all health care personnel. C is incorrect because all health care personnel, not just nurses, should practice hand hygiene. D is incorrect because wearing gloves does not replace the need for hand hygiene, as gloves can become contaminated and proper hand hygiene is still necessary to prevent the spread of infection.
Question 3 of 5
A nurse is performing a sterile dressing change. If new sterile items or supplies are needed, how can they be added to the sterile field?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A. When adding new sterile items or supplies to a sterile field during a dressing change, sterile forceps or hands wearing sterile gloves should be used to maintain sterility. This ensures that no contamination occurs. Using clean hands (option B) or clean forceps (option C) does not maintain the sterility of the field. Clean hands wearing clean latex gloves (option D) are not sufficient for maintaining a sterile field as latex gloves are not sterile. Using sterile forceps or hands wearing sterile gloves is essential to prevent the introduction of pathogens and maintain aseptic technique.
Question 4 of 5
Which of the following are characteristics of the stage of infection known as full stage of illness? Select all that apply.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B because during the full stage of illness, specific signs and symptoms of infection are present. This stage occurs after the pathogen has invaded the body, multiplied, and the immune response has begun. The signs and symptoms indicate the body's response to the infection. Choices A, C, and D are incorrect because A refers to the incubation period, C describes the prodromal stage, and D is indicative of the convalescent period. In summary, during the full stage of illness, specific signs and symptoms are present, distinguishing it from other stages of infection.
Question 5 of 5
The nurse is admitting a patient with an infectious disease process. Which question will be most appropriate for a nurse to ask about the patient’s susceptibility to this infectious process?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: "Do you have a chronic disease?" This question is most appropriate as chronic diseases can weaken the immune system, making individuals more susceptible to infectious diseases. Susceptibility is linked to underlying health conditions. Choice A is irrelevant to susceptibility. Choice C focuses on family members, not the patient's own susceptibility. Choice D is unrelated to the patient's susceptibility to the infectious process.